Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Herbert William Thompson was one of 9 children all of whom survived childhood. His father Herbert Thompson and his mother Sarah Ann Day both hailed from Sheffield, Yorkshire where they were born on April 24th 1862 and 1863 respectively. The 1911 census states they were married in 1881.
Their son Robert was born at Thornaby, Yorkshire in 1888 and Herbert William on May 9th 1890., baptised on May 22nd 1890. In 1891 they occupied 4 rooms at 5, Lyndhurst Street in the parish of Thornaby, South Stockton which became their permanent home. Herbert supported his family employed as a stove grate grinder.
Frank Thompson was born in 1892, Sarah Jane 1893 Thomas 1895, Percy 1897, and Fred in 1899. The youngest of their children Mary and Grace Amelia were born in 1901 and on March 3rd 1903 respectively.
By 1911 Herbert had the support of his sons Robert (22) and Herbert (20) employed as labourers while Percy (14) Fred (11), Mary (10) and Grace (8) were scholars. Sarah Jane and Thomas had left the family home. Thomas (15) was employed as a horseman/servant by farmer Frederick Anton at Newly Grange, Nunthorpe, North Yorkshire. Frank Thompson emigrated the U.S.A. and settled in Delaware, Pennsylvania where he created a family and died February 12th 1977.
As early as 1911 there were already rumblings of a possibility of war with Germany. 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.
On August 14th 1915 grinder and plate layer Herbert William Thompson was attested at Thornaby on Tees. Described as 5 feet 6 and 1/4 inches tall, fresh complexion, grey eyes and dark hair with a tattoo on his left forearm, he was assigned to the 234th Field Company Royal Engineers joining them that same day at Marton a suburb in the south of Middlesbrough historically in Yorkshire, regimental number 131538.
Sapper Thompson was posted to Milford, Surrey where he spent the winter of 1915-1916 in Hutments when the weather was inclement. He was not subjected to any hardship, strain or inclement weather whilst at No.5 Depot R.E. at Deganwy, North Wales Training Centre. He was under canvas at Deganwy from April 25th 1916 for nearly 6 months until October 9th 1916 and equipped with adequate clothing. Sapper Thompson did not engage in any training whilst in North Wales but posted to Light Duty for the whole period.
After a physical examination by the Medical Board the Secretary Royal Hospital Chelsea, S.W. London stated Sapper 131538 Herbert William Thompson be discharged under Kings Regulations 392 (xvi), no longer fit for war service, approved on January 26th 1917 and actioned on February 16th 1917. Herbert was suffering from tuberculosis and received a war pension sent to him at 22, George Street, Thornaby on Tees. Awards British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Sapper Thompson was awarded Silver War badge No.26519 to be worn on the lapel of his civilian clothing. Introduced in 1916 it indicated that his early release from the Army was due to sickness or wounding. Prior to its introduction servicemen who did not present any physical impediment were subjected to the angry outbursts of widows, fiancées and sweethearts of serving men who considered them to be shirkers, presenting them with a white feather as a sign of cowardice.
Whilst on active service Herbert would have received news of his brother Stoker Fred Thompson who went down with H.M.S. Queen Mary in 1916 adding to the grief of the Thompson family as their mother Sarah Jane Thompson nee Day (52) had died on January 14th 1916. In 1918 he would learn that his sister Sarah Jane’s husband Benjamin Cyril Wise had been killed in action.
Herbert William Thompson married Harriet Ann Edwards in 1917 at Stockton on Tees. Born on March 21st 1895 at Boston in Lincolnshire she was the daughter of John Edwards, known as Jack born at Boston and Susannah Forsyth known as Lucy a native of Middlesbrough both of whom were born in 1873.
In 1921 the couple resided at 22, George Street, Thornaby on Tees, which became their permanent home, with their children, two year old John Thomas William Thompson born November 13th 1918 and Lilian born February 2nd 1921. No longer able to be employed by The Moor Ironworks at Stockton as a plate layer due to ill-health, Herbert with the help of the Government, had started his own business selling fishing tackle.
Harriet Ann gave birth to a further 2 children. Joyce was born during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1923, Herbert William’s father Herbert Thompson died on May 2nd 1923, their daughter Freda was born in 1924.
The 1939 census was completed on September 29th 1939. Herbert was a sports dealer for his own account specialising in fishing tackle and also listed as a life pensioner ex soldier, John Thomas
William as an engineer turner, specified as important work and also undertaking gas classes with the St. John’s Ambulance soon to be put to use as Britain had again declared she was at war with Germany on September 3rd 1939. Lilian assisted her mother at home.
Herbert William Thompson died in 1952, his widow Harriet Ann Thompson nee Edwards in 1966 both registered at Cleveland, historically in Yorkshire.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
