Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Thomas William Gaskell was one of 8 surviving children, offspring of Thomas Gaskell born at Wigan, Lancashire in circa 1864 and his wife, whom he married at Wigan in 1887, Eliza Powell, born at Buckley, Flintshire, Wales. Their daughter Lilian Beatrice was born two years later at Chorlton, Lancashire and in 1891 they were living at 9. Heywood Street, Makerfield, a suburb of Wigan, where Thomas was employed as a coal miner. By the time they migrated to the north east their family had grown with the birth of a further two daughters, Annie in 1892 and Jane, December 20th 1895 who unfortunately died just prior to her first birthday in 1896. Thomas William was born at Benwell, a suburb of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland where they had settled before transferring to the district of Whorlton where his brother James Frederick was born in 1899. In 1901 they occupied 10, First Row West in the colliery village of Walbottle, Thomas Snr worked as a coal miner/hewer, supporting his wife and 3 children, Annie (9), Thomas (4) and James Frederick (2). Later that year Eliza gave birth to son Eli Edward, Florence Mary in 1904, Henry 1907 and Joseph Edwin 1909. Thomas and his family had moved into 2 rooms at 10, Old Houses North, Walbottle, by 1911, he was still the only bread-winner as Thomas William (13) and James Frederick (12) attended school.
When war was declared with Germany in 1914, Thomas William was 16 years of age, still too young to enlist, however he did so at Newburn, exact date unknown, assigned as Private 2477 to the 4th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, a Territorial Force, part of the Northumbrian Division. After a period of training, having reached the age of 19 years, now eligible to serve overseas, as Private 38349, “C” Company, 12th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, he departed, joining his regiment in the field in France.
The 12th Battalion N. F. had landed in France in September 1915, fought on the Somme in 1916 and moved to the Arras sector in preparation for the forthcoming Arras Offensive, April 9th-May 16th 1917.
Private 38349 Thomas William Gaskell Northumberland Fusiliers died on the battlefield of wounds received in action, February 21st 1917, his body was transported to Bethune, north of Arras, a railway head and hospital centre, home of the 33rd Casualty Clearing Station, where he was interred at Bethune Town Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, grave IV. B. 70. He was 19 years of age and single.
His mother Eliza received all monies due to him from the Army, a pension of 6 shillings 6 pence a week as of November 27th 1917 and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medial, sent to her at 3, Coley Hill, North Walbottle, Newburn, Northumberland. His father Thomas commissioned at a cost of 8 shillings 5 pence an additional inscription to be added to his son’s military headstone, it reads, “Return Unto Me I Have Redeemed Thee.”
Although his brother James Frederick would also have been eligible to serve during WW1 no record has been found.
Eliza Gaskell nee Powell may have died at Northumberland South in 1944, details as regards Thomas Gaskell, unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Thomas William Gaskell is remembered at Whorlton on W53.01
