Photo: Pauline Priano
Photo: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
James Martin Thompson, one of 6 children of whom only 4 had survived by 1911, was the eldest of 2 sons and had 3 elder and 1 younger sister. His father Christopher Thompson born at Oxon Law, near Rowley, County Durham in 1853 married in 1883, district of Lanchester, to Mary Jane Coltman, native of Shincliffe, County Durham, born 1863 and baptised March 8th. Over the next ten years they had 3 children, Margaret Alice in 1884, Victoria Barbara 1887 and Emily Annie in 1890 whilst she and her children were living at Wolsingham with her brother-in-law and sister, James and Annie Spence, they had also taken into their home John Coltman, both men were employed at the coke ovens. Christopher Thompson was living alone at Howes Gill Cottages, Rowley, employed by the railway as a plate layer. James Martin was born at Healeyfield in 1892 but sadly prior to the birth of his sister Maud in 1896, his eldest sister Margaret Alice died aged 11 years in 1895. By 1901 the family was back together at Hownes Gill, and had taken in a boarder to increment the family income, Frederick Robinson also a plate layer. The following year Christopher and his wife lost another of their children, Maud died in 1902, only 6 years old, Mary gave birth to their youngest child Frederick (Fred) in 1903 and he was their only child living at home by 1911 at 1 Hownes Gill, Rowley, County Durham. James (19) was one of 3 boarders in the home of his uncle Matthew Coltman and family at Wesley Terrace, Dipton, where he was employed below ground as a coal miner.
Upon the outbreak of war new battalions were formed as part of Kitchener’s New Armies, one of these was the 11th Battalion Durham Light Infantry formed in August 1914. James Martin Thompson enlisted at Chester-le-Street, assigned as Private 12291 and posted to the 11th Battalion D.L.I. joining his regiment at their camp at Pirbright. Initially the men had no equipment or uniforms but were issued with blue serge uniforms in November 1914 and soon after leather equipment and obsolete rifles by the time the battalion had moved to Larkhill, Wiltshire, north of Salisbury Plain. By January 1915 the 11th Battalion had many miners in its ranks and possibly for this reason was converted to a Pioneer Battalion of the 60th Brigade, 20th Division. The men were expected to work at the front digging and repairing trenches and lines of communication, however, when needed to fight as infantrymen. Private Thompson departed with his regiment July 20th 1915 bound for France, landing at Boulogne the division concentrated east of St Omer before moving to Fleurbaix for trench familiarisation. The 20th Division in 1916 with the help of the Canadians captured the heights during the Battle of Mount Sorrel. They fought on the Somme in 1916 during the Battle of Delville Wood, July 15th-September 3rd, the Battle of Guillemont, September 3rd-6th, Fleurs-Courcelette, September 15th-22nd, Battle of Morval, September 25th-28th and Le Transloy October 1st-18th 1916.
Private 12291 James Mason Thompson was killed in action September 20th 1916. His sacrifice is recorded as one of 72,318 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, commemorating servicemen from Great Britain and South Africa who died on the Somme before March 20th 1918, and have no known grave. He was 24 years of age and single.
His father received all monies due to his son from the Army and his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
James Mason Thompson is remembered at Castleside on C113.01
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page
