Tyne Cot Memorial
Tyne Cot Memorial: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John George Ternent was born 1892 in the district of South Shields, one of 6 children of whom only 3 survived, gender of siblings unknown. His father John George Ternent Snr born 1857, native of South Shields and mother Mary Alice Smith of Sunderland born 1864, where married at Heworth, June 12th 1886. His father was a miner, the family moved around the area wherever there was work. In 1911 they were living at 44, Beaumont Terrace, Westerhope, Northumberland, John George Snr employed as a shafter, John Jnr aged 19 years as a screener above ground.
By the time war broke out in 1914 they had moved back to Heworth, John George enlisted and was assigned as Private 263059 to the 1/5th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, a Territorial Force with drill halls in and around the Newcastle-upon-Tyne area.They departed to France in April 1915, joining the 149th Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division in the field. They took part in the Second Battle of Ypres in Belgium, April 22nd-May 25th 1915 and were then sent south to the Somme. They did not participate in any major battles during 1916 until the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, September 15th-22nd followed by the Battle of Morval September 25th-28th after which they were withdrawn from front line service on the Somme and returned to the Ypres salient in Belgium.
Private 263059 John George Ternent Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action, October 24th 1917 during the Battle of Passchendaele which raged, July 31st-November 10th 1917. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the names inscribed on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing, panel 19-23. The memorial wall forms the backdrop to Tyne Cot Cemetery, Passchendaele, near Ypres in Belgium commemorating those who died on the salient as of July 15th 1917 and who have no known grave.
His mother Mary Alice received all monies due to him and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 18, Holly Street, Heworth, Gateshead, County Durham. John George Ternent Snr died in 1925 at Gateshead aged 67 years, Mary Alice Ternent nee Smith aged 75 years in 1940.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
John George Ternent is remembered as J. Terrnant on H92.03
