Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Thomas Edward Bell, one of 11 children, all of whom survived, was the 2nd born of 7 brothers and had 4 younger sisters. His parents Thomas Edward Bell Snr born at Stanley, December 31st 1866 and Mary Scott born October 13th 1870 of Prudhoe, were married in 1889 in the district of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, where their son James was born at Stobswood. By the time Thomas Edward was born in 1890 they had moved to Wylam in County Durham and in 1891 were living at 7, Cornish Row, Walbottle, where Thomas Snr was employed as a coal miner, there is no entry for their son James but also living in the household was Joseph Scott (10) Mary’s brother. Over the next ten years Mary gave birth to a further 5 children, Jane and Robert, 1892 and 1894 respectively in the village of Walbottle, John James 1896 at Heaton, William and Isabella in 1898 and 1900 respectively, at Coxlodge, both suburbs of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Mary’s father Edward Scott died in 1899, his widow Jane and Mary’s brother William (15) joined Joseph (19) in the Bell household at 73, Morpeth Street, Spital Tongues, Newcastle. Thomas Edward Snr maintained his employment as a coal miner/hewer, Joseph (19) and William Scott (15) were also employed at the colliery as miners working below ground, Mary and her mother remained at home. By 1911 the Scott family had gone their separate way, the Bells’ were now living in 5 rooms at 9, Mary Agnes Street, Coxlodge, Newcastle. James Bell now 23 years of age had returned to the family home employed as a cartman for the brewery while his father and brothers were still employed as miners, Thomas Edward Snr as a hewer, Thomas Edward Jnr (21) a putter, Robert (17) a brakeman, John James (15) a driver, the remainder of their siblings, with the exception of Jane (21) who assisted her mother, and 10-month old Sydney, born 1910, were scholars, William (13), Isabella (11), Elizabeth born 1902, Annie 1905 and Fred 1907.
Married in 1913 at Newcastle to farmer’s daughter, Sarah Elizabeth Green, born April 27th 1895, in Northumberland, Thomas Edward settled his new bride and their son Thomas William born September 6th 1913, in the rural district of Castle Ward, Northumberland. When war was declared in August 1914 he enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, assigned as Driver 1252 1/2nd Northumberland Division Field Coy, Royal Engineers, a Territorial Force with H. Q. at Barras Bridge, Newcastle. His training complete he departed with the Royal Engineers, April 18th 1915, disembarking at Le Havre in France and as part of the 50th Division concentrated near Steenvoorde by the 23rd. The infantry of the division was immediately in action the following day at the Battle of St. Julien while the Royal Engineers remained at Steenvoorde until the night of April 26th when they were sent up to work on the new defence line near Hill 60. The troops were ordered to hold the line which kept the R. E. busy repairing and improving defences before moving to a quieter sector to the south for a period of rest at the conclusion of the battles of Frezenberg and Bellewaarde Ridges until June 16th.
The 50th Northumbrian Division moved back to the Ypres salient in December 1915 where the engineers were again engaged repairing defences and with the signallers, the lines of communication. August 1916 they were ordered to move south to the Somme into the line at Bazentin digging assembly and jumping-off trenches in preparation for the Battle of Flers-Courcelette which commenced September 15th 1916 where the infantry of the 50th Division attacked between High Wood and Martinpiuch. The 1/1st and 1/2nd Northumberland Field Companies were held in reserve near Railway Trench but later that day set to work digging communication trenches, repairing roads and building gun emplacements constantly subjected to enemy fire. This continued for the next seven days resulting in many casualties. After a brief lull the fighting resumed at the Battle of Morval, September 25th 1916 and continued until November.
Driver 1252 Thomas Edward Bell Royal Engineers was killed in action, September 27th 1916 and interred at Fricourt British Cemetery, grave B 1. He was 26 years of age. Although his brothers, with the exception of Fred and Sydney, would have been eligible to serve during WW1, no records have been found.
His widow received official notification of his death, October 11th 1916 at her home address of 47, Henry Street, Gosforth, Newcastle, as his beneficiary all monies owed to him from the Army, also his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Sarah Elizabeth remarried in the district of Castle Ward, Northumberland in 1920 to Thomas W. Watson, they do not appear to have had any children. Sarah and Thomas moved to 34, Kings Avenue, Langley Park, County Durham, where she was notified, April 5th 1917 that she had been awarded a pension of 18 shillings 9 pence a week as of April 16th 1917 for herself and her son Thomas William, due to expire September 6th 1929 once he turned 16 years of age.
As Mrs Watson post 1920 she commissioned at a cost of 6 shillings 1 pence an additional inscription to be added to Thomas Edward’s military headstone, it reads, “Asleep Till We Meet Again.”
Sarah Elizabeth Watson-Bell nee Green died in 1973 aged 77 years registered at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, details as regards her second husband are unknown.
Thomas Edward and Sarah’s son Thomas William Bell may have died at Newcastle in 1977.
In Gods safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Thomas Edward Bell is remembered at Whorlton on W53.01
