Close up of the base of the Family Headstone
Family Headstone in the Cemetery
Medal Index Card
War Diary entry for the 7th March 1917
On side of stone
Also his sons
On the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium is the name of 3623 and 320008 Sergeant Waddington Mais, 'X' Company, 19th (Service) Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, (2nd County, Bantams), who died 20/10/1917.
Waddington Mais was born in February 1886, at 43 Backhouse Street, Darlington, Durham, the son of Thomas, born 1st June 1858, at Great Smeaton, [School Attendance and Relieving Office, and a Registrar of Births and Vaccination Officer], died on the 27th July 1930 age 72, and Sarah [nee Wallis], born 9th February 1861, at Darlington, died on the 23rd August 1946, Darlington, (age 85). They were married on the 5th February 1884, and they had nine children.
Alfred born 25th June 1899, [baptised on the 9th July 1899], at 43 Backhouse Street, Darlington, Durham, Annie, born 20th February 1884, died 5th May 1966 at Darlington, Emily, born 18th August 1894, died 4th July 1969, [in 1939 she was residing at 158 Park Lane, Darlington, and was a Clerk. Also at the same address was her older sister Annie who was an Elementary School Teacher, together with their mother Sarah]. Sarah Lillian, baptised 5th March 1890, died 1966, married a Thomas Young Miller, Thomas William, born 16th February 1892, died 29th May 1961, who went on to marry an Annan Johnston Anderson, born on the 15th March 1892, died 14th June 1975, in 1939 they were residing at 22 Courtlands Road, Darlington, Durham. He was an Estimator Forging Caster and was also an A.R.P. with First Aid Skills. He died on the 29th May 1961. Their daughter Agnes was born in 1924 in Darlington and married Robert Evelyn Terrance Kingan in 1945 in Darlington. Charles Edward, born 27th April 1897, died 19th December 1953, who became a Public Assistant Officer in Local Government, he married Emma McLoughlin, born 13th January 1902, died 6th March 1981 in Leeds, in 1926. Their children were Francis Thomas, born 27th June 1927 in Hemsworth, [was a permanent secretary in the civil service and secretary of the Royal Northern College of Music] ,who went on to marry Margaret Edythe Evans in 1973 and then Joan Frost-Smith in 1987 in Penrith. Judith born 20th June 1931, in Barnsley, who went on to marry Michael Cavanagh in 1963 in Leeds, Eileen, born 21st March 1935, Dorothy, born 21st March 1935, who went on to marry a Gerald Anthony Moxon in 1961 in Leeds. Charles Edward and his wife Emma in 1939 were residing at 151 Wilthorpe Road, Barnsley, Darton, Yorkshire, with two children, Judith born 20th June 1931, Dorothy, born 21st March 1935. [They show on the 1939 census with their married surnames Cavanagh and Moxon]. Dorothy was born on the 12th July 1887 but died in January 1891 and Nora baptised 31st July 1904, unfortunately died in 1907. They were all born in Darlington.
In 1881, Thomas Mais, age 22, [Waddington's father] was an Accountant clerk residing at 37 Backhouse Street, with his parents, William Mais, [born East Cowton, 25th September 1825, died 1907, Darlington], who was a shoemakers apprentice at Bolton-on-Swale in 1841, and his wife Fanny. They had five children including Thomas. Mary Elizabeth, born 19th August 1862, Henry, born 9th August 1853, Dorothy born 1st March 1850, died 1925, and Frederick born 21st October 1851.
Williams father was also a William Mais, born 7th April 1792, at Kingston, West Indies, baptised 3rd April 1794, he married his second wife and William’s mother, Mary Sayer, on the 8th May 1819 at East Cowton. He was a retired School Master, and had been teaching at East Cowton School. In 1861 he was boarding with his son William and his family. He died on the 31st July 1865 in Great Smeaton and was buried on the 3rd August.
By 1911, the family were now residing at 16 Clifton Road, Darlington, Durham.
Waddington married Frances Georgina [Varey], born 1st March 1880, died 1962, on the 26th May 1915, and resided at 85, Pensbury Street, Darlington. They had one child Sybil Waddington Mais, born 29th* October 1916. [In 1939, she was residing at 27 Woodland Terrace, Darlington, Durham]. Also at the same address was a Lilian R. Vasey, born 12th January 1888, and was a Saleswoman.
* Army Service papers state the 19th October 1916. Which is incorrect.
He was educated at Darlington Grammar School. Waddington Mais was an Elementary School Teacher employed by the Town Council for Darlington, at Beaumont Street School. He had enlisted in the 1/5th Battalion Durham Light Infantry as a Territorial on the 6th June 1915 at Stockton-on-tees. Service number 3623, rank was Lance-Corporal, he was promoted to Sergeant on the 7th September 1915. He was 5 feet six and a half inches tall, and he wore spectacles.
Waddington then was posted into the 19th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry as Service No 320008, on the 1st March 1917, embarking at Folkestone on the 11th February and arriving at Boulogne on the same day.
He then was based at the 35th Infantry Base Depot, [IBD] then located at Etaples.
An IBD was a holding camp. Situated within easy distance of one the Channel ports, it received men on arrival from England and kept them in training while they awaiting posting to a unit at the front. Source : The Long, Long, Trail.
Waddington arrived at his battalion on the 7th March 1917. He was in 'X' Company.
"On the front of 19/Durham LI enemy resistance, at the first objective , was strong and the field guns had to be called up to clear the enemy machine gun positions. As the battalion cleared the ridge and moved onto the second objective they were held up by machine gun fire from the Kreupel Ridge. Again the field guns were called up and shelled the ridge, the attackers then secured the ridge and pushed patrols forward to secure the line of the final objective, which was secured by 18.30 hours."
The War Diary mentions the trenches being shelled by the Germans constantly.
Source : Durham Pals John Sheen, page 259.
Waddington's widow received her husband's personal effects in March 1918, these consisted of Spectacles plus lenses, Cigarette Case, Watch broken, Pipe and a Gold Ring. She was awarded a pension of 22 shillings and 11 pence on the 27th May 1918.
With Thanks to Howard Mais, 13th March 2017.
Waddington Mais is remembered at Darlington on D40.021, D40.034 and D40.046
