Etaples Military cemetery
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Thomas William Smith was born 1881 at Wardley, County Durham, the youngest son and one of 7 known children, 2 sons and 5 daughters. His father William Smith native of Blaydon Burn, County Durham, born 1843 married Mary Ann born 1844 at Winlaton, County Durham. For the first 6 years of their marriage they lived at Ramsay’s Lodge, Winlaton, where he was employed at the colliery as an engine-man but by 1881 he had moved his family to 10, Railway Row, Heworth near Gateshead, County Durham. William Smith died in 1897 when Thomas was only 16 years old, as the only son still living at home he became his mother and sister Janet’s only means of support, employed as a grocer’s shopman. His mother died in 1911 aged 67 years.
On the outbreak of war he enlisted at Felling, assigned as Private 4549 to the Durham Light Infantry, later transferred as Private 26533 to the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment attached to the 1st Battalion of the Regular Army, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division. Unfortunately his military record no longer exists, one of the 70% destroyed during the blitz of WW2, however, the regular soldiers of his regiment had departed in 1914 and remained for the duration of the war on the Western Front. Having no military experience it is highly likely he would not have departed until 1916 joining his regiment on the Somme where it participated in the opening battle, July 1st 1916 at the Battle of Albert, followed by Pozieres July 23rd-3rd September, Flers- Courcelette 15th-22nd September and Morval 25th-28th September. In 1917 they saw action in the German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line. and in the Third Battle of Ypres in Belgium, July 31st-10th November.
During the battle in Belgium, exact date unknown, Private Smith was seriously wounded and transported through the evacuation system until being admitted to one of the hospitals at Etaples, an important hospital centre accessible by rail from both the northern and southern battlefields.
Private 26533 Thomas William Smith Loyal North Lancashire Regiment died at Etaples of wounds sustained on active service November 22nd 1917. He was interred at Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, grave XXX. M. 9A.
Thomas had nominated as his sole beneficiary his sister Janet Barclay nee Smith, known affectionately as Jenny. She received all monies due to him and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 11, Durham Street, Prelaw-On-Tyne, near Gateshead, County Durham. She paid for an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, “Father In Thy Gracious Keeping Leave We Now Our Brother Sleeping”.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Thomas William Smith is remembered at Heworth on H92.03
