In Sans-Les-Marquion British Cemetery, France is the Commonwealth War Grave of 241763 Gunner Benjamin Cyril Wise serving with “D” Battery 59th Brigade Royal Field Artillery who died 03/10/1918. 

He was the husband of Sarah Jane Wise, of 5, Lyndhurst Street, Thornaby on Tees. 

Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-

Benjamin Cyril Wise was one of 4 children and had 3 half siblings from his father’s first marriage. 

His father Henry Wise was born at Cote House Farm, Great Busby, Middlesbrough historically in Yorkshire. He was the son of farmer Robert Wise and Mary Prest. 

Henry Wise was circa 28 years old when he married Annie Fairweather on April 20th 1870 with whom he had 3 children, John William Fairweather Wise on January 16th 1871, Annie in 1872 and Henry Thomas on November 9th 1873. 

In 1881 Henry was farming 190 acres with the help of 2 men and a boy. He employed Christopher Shepherd (13) as a farm servant and Mary Lynas (19) as a domestic servant. All three of his children were scholars. 

Annie Wise nee Fairweather died in 1882 and Henry Wise married for a second time in 1883 to Eliza Ann Bainbridge nee Reah. Eliza Ann was the widow of farmer Matthew Bainbridge who had died in 1882. Born at Great Busby in 1856 Eliza Ann was the daughter of spinster Margaret Reah and baptised on November 16th 1856 in the parish of Whorton in Cleveland, Yorkshire. Her marriage to Matthew Bainbridge which had lasted less than 3 years was childless.

By 1891 Henry and Eliza Ann were farming at Cote House and had 4 children of their own, Robert born in 1884, James 1885, Fred 1887 and Benjamin Cyril 1889. His wife gave birth to their son George in 1891. Henry’s children from his first marriage lived with them and both Thomas William (20) and Henry Thomas (17) with the help of farm servant Joseph Slater (14) assisted their father on the farm, Annie (18) assisted her stepmother in running the home. 

On Thursday April 15th 1897 Henry Wise (53) left the house a 6 a.m. and his son Benjamin Cyril who went to the barn at about 10 a.m. to gather eggs, found his father hanging in the cow byre. He ran to the house for help and Mr. John Carter and Mr. Christopher Stocksdale were called. Mr Carter cut him down. Henry Wise had hanged himself using a thickness of string used for tying up straw. He was buried two days later. His effects in the sum of £1829 and 7 shillings were assigned as per his Will on May 13th 1897 to John Wise, farmer, possibly Henry’s eldest son. 

In 1911 as head of the household John William Fairweather Wise, his wife Elizabeth, children Edwin and Emily, his brother Henry Thomas (27) and half siblings Fred (13), Benjamin Cyril (11) and George (9) were living at Garfits in the hamlet of Bilsdale. Ten years later Benjamin Cyril (21) was employed as a fam labourer by John William and Isabel Helen Garbutt at White House Farm, Stokesley. 

As early as 1911 there were already rumblings of a possibility of war with Germany but day to day life continued. Benjamin Cyril Wise married Sarah Jane Thompson on April 27th 1913 at St. Luke, Thornaby. Sarah Jane who was born at Thornaby on December 13th 1893 was the daughter of stone grate grinder Herbert Thompson and Sarah Day both of whom were natives of Sheffield, Yorkshire. Sarah Jane had a daughter Gladys Alice Mabel Thompson born on November 10th 1911 at Middlesbrough. 

Benjamin and Sarah Jane’s son Frank Herbert Wise was born on September 29th 1913 while they were residing at 14, Stephenson Street, Thornaby where Benjamin was employed as a rolleyman. Frank Herbert was baptised on October 15th 1913 in the parish of St. Luke’s Thornaby. The ceremony was performed by Ralph John Featherstone.  

Within hours of Germany, as part of a massive attack on France, invaded Belgium violating Belgian neutrality. After a request to Britain by the Belgians for help, London gave Berlin an ultimatum which expired August 4th 1914 at 11 p.m. London time. When this was ignored, King George V then declared war on Germany that same evening. Men from all walks of life in answer to Kitchener’s call to arms volunteered to serve their Country.

Benjamin Cyril Wise resident at Thornaby enlisted at Stockton on Tees and was posted to the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery. Trained as a Gunner he was assigned service number 241763 and posted to  “D” Battery 59th Brigade R.F.A. which was raised at Weedon, a village West of Northamptonshire known for its Royal Ordinance Depot. 

“D” Battery 59th Brigade R.F.A. consisted of 18-pounder guns and was part of the 11th Northern Division which saw action in Gallipoli and the Western Front. 

Gunner Wise departed to join his unit which had returned from Gallipoli and had been ordered to France on June 17th 1916 as reinforcements for the forthcoming Battles of the Somme. Programmed to begin June 29th but delayed by bad weather until July 1st 1916 the opening battle began at Albert. By July 27th they were undertaking front line action during the capture of Wundt-Werk. They were involved during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette September 15th -22nd and the Battle of Thiepval September 26th-28th. 

In 1917 they participated on the Ancre before moving north to Belgium in action at Messines and during the 3rd Battle of Ypres at Langermarck, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde and Poelcapelle. 

When the Germans attacked once again on the Somme on March 21st 1918 they were sent back to France into the Arras sector. They participated during the Second Battles of Arras at the Battle of the Scarpe August 26th 1918 and Drocourt Quéant September 1st-3rd, at the Battles of the Hindenburg Line at the Battle of Canal du Nord on the outskirts of Cambrai September 27th-October 1st.  

Gunner 241763 Benjamin Cyril Wise was killed in action on October 3rd 1918 and taken for burial to Sans-Les-Marquion British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France where he is at rest grave II. A. 15. He was 29 years old. 

His widow Sarah Jane was notified of his death on October 23rd 1918. She received all monies due to her late husband from the Army, his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal. Sarah Jane was awarded a pension on April 17th 1919 for herself, their son Frank Herbert and Gladys Alice Mabel who had been supported by Gunner Wise since his marriage to her mother. She received weekly as of April 28th 1919 the sum of 25 shillings 7 pence sent to the address of 51, Lyndhurst Street, Thornaby on Tees. This would diminish as each child in turn reached 16 years of age. 

Sarah Jane’s brother Stoker Fred Thompson had gone down with his ship H.M.S. Queen Mary in 1916, his demise had been preceded by the death of their mother Sarah Jane Thompson nee Day on January 14th 1916. Her brother Herbert William Thompson served and survived the conflict. 

In 1921 Sarah Jane (28) and her children were living with her father widow Herbert Thompson at 5, Lyndhurst Street. The household also consisted of her sister Mary (20) a labourer at the Union Foundry, Grace (18) a servant in the private home of W. Adams and her brother Percy (23) working for Pease Partners Tees Transporter Bridge. Their father Herbert was employed by Crosswades & Company at the Grate & Pipe Foundry. 

Herbert Thompson (61) died on March 2nd 1923 registered in the district of Middlesbrough. Details as regards the demise of Sarah Jane Wise nee Thompson are unknown. 

Details of Benjamin Cyril and Sarah Jane’s children.

Gladys Alice Mabel Thompson who had taken the surname Wise married Horace Best in 1933 at Middlesbrough who was born on June 30th 1911. In 1939 they were living at 46, Redcar Road, Thornaby on Tees where he was employed by Henry Owen Boiler Makers as a template maker. Gladys had given birth to 3 children. 

Horace Best died on June 23rd 1987 registered at Central Cleveland, Gladys Alice Mabel Best nee Thompson-Wise resident at 46, Redcar Road died on August 23rd 1993 at Thornaby, Stockton on Tees. Effects in the sum not exceeding £125000 to person or persons unspecified. 

Frank Herbert Wise married Monica Carroll or Robson in 1945. 

Frank Herbert Wise resident of 8, Marlborough Road, Haverton Hill, County Durham died on June 2nd 1960 at Imperial Chemical Industries Limited, Billingham. Effects in the sum of £569 7 shillings to widow Monica Wise on March 13th 1961.

His widow may have died in 1981 registered at Cleveland.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace. 

Benjamin Cyril Wise is remembered at Thornaby on T70.01 and T70.02.