Photo: Brian Chandler
Hospital Ship St. Denis
The headstone which is not very clear reads:
In loving memory of Pte. Thomas William Young
. . . .the 30th (?90th) Field Ambulance, dearly beloved son
. . . .Andrew Young & S. Porteous of Westerhope
. . .died from wounds received in action in France
July 25th 1918 aged 21 years & 11 months.
His sails are past his ?work is done
And he is fully ?
He fought the fight the victory won . . .into rest.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Thomas William Young, one of 5 children of whom only 4 survived, was the 2nd born of 3 sons and an elder daughter. His father Andrew Young was born at Whittington, Northumberland in 1868 and by the age of 13 had transferred with his family to Gateshead, County Durham. In 1881 they were living at 7, Tyne Vale Terrace, Gateshead, where he and his 2 elder siblings were scholars and his father, John Andrew Young, was employed as an agent for a wire rope manufacturer, this may well have been the ropery at Dunston, Gateshead, which made everything from twine to ships ropes.
Andrew Young was married to Mary Ann born 1869 at West Stanley, County Durham, their children were all born at Gateshead in County Durham, Mary Ann in 1894, John George 1895, Thomas William 1896 and Richard 1898. In 1901 they were living at 30, Dunsmuir Grove, Bensham, Gateshead, Andrew was employed as a gas stoker, possibly at Redheugh gas works, and had moved to the adjoining 3, Westminster Street over the next ten years, joined at the gas works store by John George (17), Thomas William (14) was a billiard marker, Richard !12) attended school, while Mary Ann remained at home with her mother.
Andrew Young died in 1912, aged 43-years, registered at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Mary Ann remarried in 1913 at Gateshead to Stephen J. Porteous, and transferred from County Durham to Northumberland settling at 5, Beaumont Terrace, Westerhope.
Upon the commencement of war in 1914 Thomas William was 18 years of age. He enlisted at Gateshead, County Durham for the duration of the war, May 26th 1915, embodied as Private 2245 to the 3rd Line Territorial Force, 2nd Northumbrian Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corp, the following month he was awarded the 5th rate of Corps Pay. He departed from Southampton, November 18th 1916 with a change of service number, as Private 89147, landing in France and made his way to the Territorial Base Depot at Rouen, an important hospital centre, from there he was posted to the field joining the 90th Field Ambulance, December 12th 1916.
The Field Ambulance was a mobile front line medical unit, not a vehicle, manned by troops of the R.A.M.C. and came under the command of a Division, responsible for the care of casualties from the Brigades of the Division, and were never more than 600 yards behind the front line, ready to ferry the casualties, walking wounded and sick back through the lines to the Advance Dressing Stations, Casualty Clearing Stations, Walking Wounded Stations, sick and rest rooms.
The 90th Field Ambulance was attached to the 32nd Division which when Private Young joined them had left the Somme and during 1917 was involved in the Operations on the Ancre and the pursuit of the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line.
Private Young was wounded in action July 11th 1917, a gunshot wound to the finger, but remained at his post, October 13th 1917 he was awarded 11 days leave, location unspecified and returned to duty October 22nd. When the Germans attacked again on the Somme, March 21st 1918, the division was rushed into action during the First Battles of the Somme, March 21st-April 5th 1918. Private Young was gassed, April 9th 1918 and admitted to the 91st Field Ambulance, from there to the Casualty Clearing Station and the following day was admitted to the 7th Canadian Hospital at Etaples, a large hospital centre and railhead. He remained at Etaples until 12 days later he was transported to Boulogne and repatriated to England aboard the Hospital Ship St. Denis, May 12th 1918. The St. Denis when first built was named SS Munich and ran the passenger line Harwick to the Hook of Holland. Requisitioned by the Admiralty after the declaration of hostilities her name was thought to be too German sounding and she became and remained post war, the St. Denis.
He spent 75 days at Eastbourne Convalescent Hospital and reportedly, also suffering from trench fever, had made some improvement by June 28th, however, his condition took a turn for the worst, July 24th, he was retaining fluid which put a strain on his heart. Private Young died the following day, July 25th 1918, cause given as, “died of wounds, gas received in action and trench fever.”
At his mother’s request the Army organised that his body be returned home to Westerhope but she would have paid the expense. Private 89147 Thomas William Young Royal Army Medical Corps was buried within Whorlton (St. John) Churchyard Extension, he was 21 years 11 months of age and single.
Mary Ann Porteous received all monies due to her son from the Army, his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal. December 3rd 1918 she received his personal effects consisting of; knife, looking glass, 2 leather cases, photos, letters, 2 brassards, shaving stick, 1 pair socks, 3 tooth brushes and paste, 1 safety razor, blades and sharpener, 1 handkerchief, 1 tie, collar, belt, razor and strap, comb, tie pin, Religious book, tin of polish, piece of soap, 41/2 pence in coppers, sent to her at 5, Beaumont Terrace, Westerhope. Mary Ann also lived at The Willows, Westerhope and 2, Long Row, Widdrington, Morpeth, Northumberland.
Although Thomas William’s brothers were also eligible to serve no records have been found.
Mary Ann Porteous-Young may have died aged 82 years in 1952 registered at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Thomas William Young is remembered at Whorlton on W53.01
