Photo: Brian Chandler

Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-

Henry Carey, son of Henry Carey Snr, was born at Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland, November 11th 1883. Having settled in the north east of England he was married in the district of Castle Ward, Northumberland in 1900 to Mary Jane Soulsby, born at Washington, November 14th 1883. Their son Thomas was born November 7th 1900 at Slatyford, Henry Jnr, May 28th 1902, Margaret, March 20th 1905, baptised St. Andrew’s, Newcastle, April 1st, Christina, March 22nd 1907 and Joseph, December 23rd 1908, at Old Benwell, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland. They had moved from Old Benwell to Benson’s Buildings, Westerhope, also a suburb of Newcastle, by 1911, Henry supported his family employed as a coal miner/hewer and his wife gave birth, May 5th 1911 to a daughter Ellen and a son James, September 4th 1913.

Upon the declaration war with Germany Henry Carey enlisted and was assigned to the 3rd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers as Private 8978. The 3rd battalion was a Special Reserve Battalion based at Newcastle-upon-Tyne which moved to East Boldon after the commencement of war as part of the Tyne Garrison remaining for the entire war at home but also providing men for the draft to the Regular Army.

He departed to France disembarking December 27th 1914, however, he had returned to England by June 1915, and met a tragic death, June 3rd 1915. The River Tyne Police had been called to a yard on Pipewellgate, Gateshead, at about 8 o’clock in the evening where they found the body of Private Carey who was seriously injured. When questioned he said he had jumped from the High Level Bridge and that, “he did it for sport.” Transported to the Newcastle Infirmary by Police Ambulance he succumbed to his injuries at 8.45 pm.

Private 8978 Henry Carey Northumberland Fusiliers was in a depressed state having been recently dismissed from the Army. The Infirmary Coroner’s report No. 263 concluded that, “Deceased had died from shock due to injuries received by jumping from the High Level Bridge into a yard below at 7.10pm on 3rd June 1915, whilst in a depressed state of mind.” His Army pensions record states that he committed suicide.

Private Carey aged 32 years of Benson’s Buildings, Westerhope, Northumberland, was interred at Lemington Cemetery, Northumberland, grave II. U. 896. His widow commissioned at a cost of 3 shillings 2 pence an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, “Rest In Peace.”

Mary Jane Carey received all monies due to her husband from the Army, his awards of the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal also a pension for herself and their 7 children of 28 shillings a week, awarded January 7th 1916. until each of their children in turn reached 16 years of age.

In 1939 Mary Jane is listed as a widow living at 5, Denton Avenue, Walker, a suburb of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, supported by her sons Thomas and Joseph both employed at the colliery. Mary Jane Carey nee Soulsby died in 1872, aged 88 years, Thomas Carey aged 55 years in 1955, Joseph Carey in 1984 aged 75 years.

Henry Carey was married to Jennie Hutchinson, born November 11th 1911, in 1929, district of Castle Ward, Northumberland, with whom he had 4 known children, Henry Jnr, March 9th 1930, Joseph, July 8th 1932, James, October 17th 1934 and Thomas, March 4th 1936. In 1939 they were living at 12, Ingoe Street, Newburn, Northumberland, Henry was an unemployed mariner, he died aged 88 years in 1991.

Margaret Carey was married, district of Castle Ward, Northumberland, in 1924, to William Batey, born at Blucher, parish of Walbottle, September 10th 1904 and with whom she had a son Thomas, born May 13th 1925. In 1939 they were living at 3, New Eva Street, Newburn, next door to William’s widowed mother Margaret at No.2 and his brother James at No.4. William supported his family employed underground at the colliery as an assistant onsetter. Margaret Batey nee Carey died in 1981 aged 76 years, however, the given date of birth on her death certificate differs in error by one year as March 20th 1906, her death was preceded by that of her husband in 1962.

Christina Carey was married in 1928 district of Castle Ward, Northumberland, to Isaiah W. Hutchinson, born September 13th 1906 and with whom she had 2 known children, Margaret, September 16th 1928 and Muriel, November 17th 1931. In 1939 they were living at 35, Lucker Street, Newburn, Northumberland, where Isaiah was employed as a coal miner underground. Isaiah Batey died in 1974, Margaret Hutchinson nee Carey in 1980, aged 73 years.

All the above deaths registered district of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

Royal Victoria Infirmary Coroner’s report Number 263, 04/06/1915:

"Henry Carey, aged 32 years, Private 3rd N.F., Benson's Buildings, Westerhope. Died in Royal Victoria Infirmary at 8.34pm on 3rd.

Deceased died from shock due to injuries received by jumping from the roadway of the High Level Bridge into a yard below at 7.10pm on 3rd June 1915, whilst in a depressed state of mind."

Henry Carey is not remembered on a local War Memorial.

The CWGC entry for Private Carey