CWGC headstone
Pauline Priano has submitted the following :-
Thomas Oyston was born December 1895 in Kirk Merrington, the son of Abraham Oyston from Crook, born 1852 and his wife Mary Ann Bell nee Franks born 1861 in the district of Bishop Auckland. Abraham and Mary Ann were married in the district of Bishop Auckland in 1893. Mary Ann had a daughter, Sarah Jane, from her first marriage and also had, including Thomas, a further 3 children, 2 boys and 1 girl. Abraham was a miner working at Chilton Colliery, owned by Henry Stobart & Co. Ltd, as a shifter. October 4th 1910 due to the absence of an endless rope lad, whose job it was to control the mechanical pulling of the tubs up an incline with the use of a rope between two pulleys, Abraham was employed near the shaft as hanging on and somehow got nipped between two tubs. He recovered and recommenced work October 26th, but died suddenly October 30th 1910, his death was attributed to the accident. His wife, only 49, was supported by her two sons, Edward worked at the coke ovens and Thomas, at only 14, was employed as a screen boy.
Thomas Oyston was living at 7, Bede Place, Merrington when he enlisted for the duration of the war May 8th 1915 at Ferryhill joining the East Yorkshire Regiment as Private 17949 stating his age as 19 years and 6 months. He was firstly assigned to and joined the 3rd Battalion, in Beverley, May 11th 1915 and later transferred to the 6th Battalion in the September. Thomas was sent to the front September 14th 1915 as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force attached to the 11th Division, 33rd Brigade and saw action in Gallipoli (Turkey). During the winter of 1915 the men endured freezing night time temperatures, as a result December 2nd 1915 Thomas was taken to the 24th Casualty Clearing Station suffering from frostbite, transferred to the 87th Field Ambulance at Mudros December 16th 1915 and rejoined his unit in Mudros January 11th 1916. Thomas spent a further 10 days in hospital May 1916 with dental problems. The Division was ordered to France June 17th 1916, July 3rd the East Yorkshire Regiment embarked in Alexandria bound for France and arrived in Marseilles July 9th. The Battalion participated in the Battles of the Somme which included the Battle of Flers-Courcelette September 15th-22nd 1916 and Battle of Thiepval September 26th-28th 1916.
On the last day of the Battle of Thiepval Thomas was wounded in the right leg and taken to the No. 2 Australian General Hospital in Boulogne. The following day (29th) the hospital sent a message via official channels, which was then received in the form of a telegram by the local police in Ferryhill, informing them that Private Thomas Oyston was dangerously ill and could be visited. A travel warrant was issued to his mother but she could not face the journey due to ill health. His brother Edward was given a pass by Lt Col Fress, the Recruitment Officer in Ferryhill and he travelled to see his brother. From the documents I have found it is unclear whether or not he arrived in time to see Thomas who died October 3rd 1916 at the General Hospital in Boulogne. Edward sent a letter to Headquarters in York dated October 6th returning to them his mother’s travel warrant and explaining he had travelled in her place and included a certificate signed by D. Perrott, the Vicar of Kirk Merrington, bearing witness that the family was unable to afford such a journey, presumably this and Edward’s letter was an application for reimbursement.
Private 17949 Thomas Oyston “D” Coy East Yorkshire Regiment is interred at Wimereux Communal Cemetery near Boulogne, Pas de Calais, France, grave I R 3. Due to the nature of the sandy soil in the area the headstones lie flat on the graves. His mother commissioned at a cost of 5/6 (five shillings and sixpence) the additional inscription which reads, “Gone But Not Forgotten.” Thomas was 20 years old and unmarried. Articles of personal property were returned to his mother in February 1917, the memorial scroll and Plaque, his 14-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal followed over time and were again sent to his mother, Mary Ann Oyston, living at 3, Front Street, Merrington. She was also his legitimate beneficiary and received all monies owed to him. Mary Ann died in 1943.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Carol Hird has provided the photo first published in the Northern Echo 08/11/1915.
Thomas Oyston is remembered at Chilton on C107.01, C107.04 and C107.12 and at Kirk Merrington K26.01
