Heslop’s Local Advertiser 22/04/1916
Heslop’s Local Advertiser 22/04/1916
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Edward Thompson was born during the 2nd quarter of 1895 at Silksworth, Sunderland, one of 8 children, he was the eldest and the first born of 5 sons and 3 daughters although his brother William born in 1901 and sister Eleanor born 1905 both died before their first birthdays. His father Samuel Edward born at Walker, Northumberland in 1874 married Eleanor Pace native of New Seaham, County Durham born in 1873, during the 3rd quarter of 1895 in the district of Sunderland. The family were living at 10, Parkinson Street, Felling, by 1901, where Samuel was employed as a general fitter, ten years later they had moved into 3 rooms at Luke Pit, Felling. Samuel Edward was employed at the Armstrong’s Ordinance Works at Elswick, Newcastle-upon-Tyne as an engine fitter, Edward (15) who had been educated at Felling High School and Thomas (14) were both apprentices at the works, Samuel Jnr (8) was a scholar, Margaret Isabella was only 9 months old.
Edward enlisted prior to the commencement of WW1, June 5th 1912, assigned to the Territorials as Private 1427 Durham Light Infantry attending their annual camp at Scarborough. On the outbreak of war he was transferred between the 1st/9th and 2nd/9th Battalions in training until he departed as part of the British Expeditionary Force via Southampton June 27th 1915 arriving in France the following day. Transferred to the Base Camp by July 8th he was posted to the 1st/9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, Machine Gun Section, in the field, July 10th 1915 on the Ypres salient in Belgium, as part of the 151st Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division.
Private 9/1427 Edward Thompson Durham Light Infantry was killed in action on the Ypres salient, Belgium, February 7th 1916 and interred at Railway Dugouts Burial Ground (Transport Farm), West Vlaanderen, near Ypres, Belgium, grave I. M. 23, one of the many cemeteries in the Zillebeke Commune area, as the front line trenches ran through it during most part of WW1.
His father received all monies due to him and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to his home address of 3, Balmoral Terrace, Felling, Gateshead, County Durham.
Edwards brother Thomas born at Felling in 1897 also served during WW1. Prior to the outbreak of war he too was serving as a Private of the Territorial Force, firstly with the 4th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment and subsequently with the 9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. Having enlisted at Sunderland, April 16th 1913, on the outbreak of war he requested he be assigned to the East Yorkshire Regiment, this was accepted and he served as Private 7873. During his service on the Western Front he was treated for a gun shot wound to his right arm received January 27th 1915. He reached the rank of Lance Sergeant but reverted to the rank of Corporal service number 34911 with the South Staffordshire Regiment and was demobilised May 1919. Recipient of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Thomas although still part of the forces was married at Heworth October 5th 1918 to Gertrude Wilson born May 26th 1987 at Hebburn, County Durham and with whom he had 4 sons, Robert James Thompson born August 1st 1920 at Gateshead, Thomas Darling Thompson born August 1st 1920, Albert 1924 and David January 21st 1926 all three registered at Silksworth, district of Sunderland, County Durham.
Post war Britain did not offer the work opportunities that our returning service veterans expected and those who could find work saw wage reductions and worsening conditions which led to the calling of a general strike in May 1926. This may have been a contributory reason as to why Thomas and his family left their home at 22 Dene Street, Silksworth and emigrated to Australia. They left England from the port of Liverpool aboard the steamship S.S. Demosthemes of the Aberdeen Line, November 6th 1926.
Thomas and Gertrude’s son David died May 24th 1999 at Caloundra Queensland and interred at Buderin Lawn Cemetery, Maroochydore, Queensland. Thomas Thompson served during WW2 with the Australian Army NX107509 and was married in 1945 to Nellie Jessie Cause (1924-1991) died September 1st 2001 at Wentworth Fall, N.S.W., Robert James Thompson died May 22nd 2007 at Belmont N.S.W. details of Albert Edward Thompson unknown as are details of his father Thomas. Gertrude Thompson nee Wilson died September 18th 1982 at Belmont Hospital N.S.W.
Private Edward Thompson’s father Samuel Edward Thompson died aged 73 years in 1947, his wife Eleanor Thompson nee Pace in 1950 aged 77 years registered at Durham NE and Gateshead, County Durham respectively.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Heslop’s Local Advertiser 22/04/1916 carries a notice which reads:
“Private Edward Thompson, Machine Gun Section, killed in action in France on Feb. 7th. Son of Samuel Edward and Eleanor Thompson, of 3 Balmoral Terrace, Felling.”
A separate paragraph in the same edition reads:
“Private Edward Thompson, whose name appears in the Roll of Honour, was an old scholar of High Felling School and of the Methodist New Connexion Sunday School, Wellington Street. He was for some years connected with the Church Lads’ Brigade, and in 1908 secured the first prize in the Squad Competition. He was in the Territorials when war broke out, and his five years’ service would have been completed last month.”
Edward Thompson is remembered on F32.01 and possibly on F32.23
