Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Thomas Moore was the eldest of his siblings, 5 sons and 2 daughters, offspring of William Moore born 1851 and his second wife Eliza Davies born 1879, both of whom were born in Ireland and brought to England as children, they were married in the district of Lanchester 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec)1879. Thomas had 2 half siblings Hannah born 1874 and Robert 1876 whose mother, Mary, had died during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/Jun) 1879 aged 39 years.
All the Moore children were born at in the district of Crook, County Durham, Thomas 1880, Jane 1881, James 1882, John 1884, William Jnr 1885, Charlotte 1889 and Sandy 1890. William Moore in 1881 was employed as a labourer, however, by 1891 was working as a coal miner and with the help of Robert (15) employed as a labourer, supported his family who were living at Wheatbottom, Helmington Row where they remained for the next ten years. Over that time he was joined at the colliery by both James (19) a hewer and William (17) a putter below ground.
Thomas married in 1898, district of Auckland, County Durham, to Margaret Ann Gilespie born 1878 at Sunderland, County Durham, with whom he had 4 children, William born 1903 at Crook and Hilda born 1905 at Gateshead, also 2 gender unknown who died in infancy. In 1911 they were living at Dans Castle, Tow Law, County Durham, where Thomas was a coal hewer at the colliery.
Thomas enlisted at Consett, September 1914, assigned as Private 1362 to the 16th (Newcastle) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, a Pals Battalion, raised by the Newcastle & Gateshead Chamber of Commerce. Attached to the 96th Brigade, 32nd Division they began training near home before moving in May 1915 to Prees Heath, Shropshire. During the winter the camp was too wet for training and they moved to Wensley and Richmond in Yorkshire, using the firing range at Strenshall. Their final training began, August 1915, having transferred to Salisbury Plain, they departed to France, November 22nd 1915.
Upon their arrival at the front preparations were already underway for the commencement of the Battles of the Somme and after a period of trench familiarisation they were moved to the sector. The 16th Battalion, still part of the 96th Brigade, 32nd Division, saw action at the opening Battle of Albert, July 1st-13th 1916 and Bazentin Ridge July 14th-17th, however, they did not participate in any other major battles until November 1916 on the Ancre.
Private 16/1362 Thomas Moore was wounded, exact date unknown, during day to day trench warfare. Evacuated back through the lines, he succumbed to wounds sustained, July 18th 1916 and interred at St. Sever Cemetery, Seine Maritime, France, which served as a place of burial for all the hospitals at Rouen, grave A. 30. 8.
His widow received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and their children, also his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. Margaret Ann Moore nee Gilespie died in the district of Lanchester in 1920 aged 43 years, leaving her children orphans, aged 17 and 15 years.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Thomas Moore is remembered at Satley on S116.01 and at Tow Law on T57.01 and T57.03
