In Jarrow Cemetery is the Commonwealth War Grave with a private headstone of 101004 Company Serjeant Major Thomas Euen Nesham serving with the 142 A.T. Company Royal Engineers who died 26/04/1920.

The husband of Elizabeth Nesham of Coxhoe, Durham.

The headstone reads:-

In affectionate remembrance of
Thomas Euen
beloved husband of
Elizabeth Nesham
who entered into rest
April 26th 1920
aged 36 years

Peace Perfect Peace

Also the above
Elizabeth Nesham
died January 1st 1958
aged 76 years

Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-

Thomas Euan Nesham was one of 10 children of whom only 8 survived and are known by name.

His father was born in 1859 at Byker, a suburb of Newcastle upon Tyne, his mother Elizabeth Watt Walker in Aberdeenshire, Scotland in 1859, where she was baptised by her parents, Alexander and Mary Walker (nee Webster), December 1st, at the church of St. Nicholas, Aberdeen. Her entire family had moved to the north east between 1867 and 1870 and finally settled at 10, Buon Accord Street, Hebburn Quay, historically in County Durham, where her father was employed as a boiler maker.

Robert and Elizabeth were married in the district of South Shields in 1879 and were living at 13, Ellison Street, Hebburn in 1881 with their one year old daughter Elizabeth. Their son Alexander was born, November 2nd 1881. Robert supported his family employed at the iron works as a ball furnaceman.

Over the next 10 years his wife gave birth to a further 3 children, Thomas Euan in 1883, George, January 30th 1887 and Margaret, April 15th 1891, by which time they had moved to 7, Nixon Street, Jarrow. Robert was now working at the shipyard as a hammer man. Jarrow was the birthplace of their 3 youngest children, Robert Jnr. December 20th 1894, Mary Ann 1897 and John 1899 and Robert had the help of his elder sons in supporting  the family. They had moved to 83, Clayton Street, Jarrow. Alexander (19) and George (14) were butcher’s assistants, Thomas (17) was serving his apprenticeship as a stone mason.

Thomas Euan Nesham  married, in the parish of Christ Church, Jarrow, July 15th 1906 Elizabeth Riley who was the daughter of furnace stoker, Thomas Riley of Merton, County Durham and Rebecca Langston born in Staffordshire. Elizabeth gave birth to a son Cecil Euan Nesham, April 19th 1907 at Hebburn. In 1911 they were living at 17, Bexley Street, Sunderland.

When Britain declared a state of war existed with Germany, August 4th 1914, Thomas Euan Nesham was employed as a Police Constable, he and his family were living at 15, Durham Road, Bowburn, Coxhoe, County Durham. Thomas enlisted at West Hartlepool, May 20th 1915 for the duration of the war. He was in the best of health, passed fit for war service and attached to the Royal Engineers.

Initially assigned as Sapper 101004 he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, May 21st and joined the 225th Field Company raised at Marton Hall, Middlesborough, historically in Yorkshire, as part of Kitchener’s New Armies. Marton Hall had been abandoned after the death of its owner Henry Bolckow a Member of Parliament and first Major of Middlesborough. Inherited by his nephew, it was never occupied as the family chose to live elsewhere. Sergeant Nesham was only one of 19 members of the Royal Engineers, according to records, to be billeted there during WW1.

The 225th Field Company Royal Engineers was attached to the 39th Division, which at the time Sergeant Nesham fell ill, January 11th 1916, was at Bramshott Camp, Hampshire. A temporary camp for the duration of the war it also had a tented hospital where Sergeant Nesham was admitted and operated for an appendicitis, January 17th.

Fully recovered he returned to duty, February 14th 1916 and posted to the British Expeditionary Force when the 225th was mobilised, March 2nd and promoted to the rank of Company Sergeant Major. The 225th Field Company departed to France as part of the 39th Division, disembarking, March 3rd 1916 on French soil.

The successful outcome of WW1 relied on engineering, without which, the supply chain of men, machinery, ammunition and weapons, would not have been possible. The Royal Engineers built and maintained roads, bridges, railways, maintained waterways and water supplies as well as the lines of communication, telephones, wireless and signalling equipment.

Company Serjeant Major Nesham was repatriated to England, August 2nd 1916 having taken ill suffering from trench fever and was admitted to Wharncliffe War Hospital, South Yorkshire, September 14th 1916 where he remained until February 27th 1917.

Upon his discharge he was transferred to the Royal Engineers Training Corps., Newark August 27th 1917 and departed to France, September 22nd joining the 142nd Army Tunnelling Field Company R.E.

After two periods of leave, 7th-21st January 1918, then 14 days as of December 22nd 1918, whilst on leave in England he was demobilised January 5th 1919, transferred to Class Z Army Reserve and taken off strength, permanently discharged, February 11th 1919.

Once discharged Thomas initiated a disability claim as he was suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis. The conclusion of the Medical Board was that it was attributed to cold and exposure during war service, his health was impaired by 80%. He was already receiving a pension of 37 shillings 6 pence a week which was increased to 57 shillings 4 pence until April 5th 1921 plus 17 shillings 6 pence a week for his wife and child. Unfortunately Thomas succumbed to pulmonary tuberculosis, April 26th 1920.

Company Sergeant Major 101004 Thomas Euan Nesham was interred at Jarrow Cemetery, historically in County Durham, now Tyne & Wear, grave 11. 54. C. After the production of sufficient evidence to fulfil their criteria, he was accepted by the C.W.G.C. as a casualty of war, December 9th 2014, “brought in from the cold,” and his name added to the list of United Kingdom casualties of WW1.

During his service he was Mentioned in Despatches of Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, London Gazette, July 7th 1919 and was also the recipient of the British War Medal and Victory Medal. At the time of his demise he was 35 years of age.

Although Thomas’ elder brothers would also have been eligible to serve during WW1, no records have been found, however, his brother Alexander Nesham did serve during the Second Boer War with the 34th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry. Alex enlisted January 17th 1902, South Africa, May 14th 1902-November 8th 1902, discharged November 15th 1902, at his own request.

Elizabeth Nesham nee Riley never remarried, she died, aged 76 years, January 1st 1956 and was interred with her husband at Jarrow.

Their son Cecil Euan married in 1933 at Gateshead, County Durham Ann Stephenson Duguid, born, January 17th 1907. In the census of 1939 the family consisted of Cecil, his wife and a new born daughter Margaret E Nesham. They were living at 12, Leopold Street, Jarrow. Cecil Euan Nesham had followed in his father’s footsteps and was employed as a detective constable.

Cecil Euan Nesham of 7, Field Lane, Heworth, Gateshead, historically in County Durham, died October 18th 1958. Effects in the sum of £4740 10 shillings 2 pence were assigned to his widow, November 24th 1958,

Ann Stephenson Nesham nee Duguid died at Gateshead in 1990.

Their daughter married Robert J. Fullerton of Chester le Street in 1967, they migrated to Cornwall where she died, district of Truro in 2006.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

John Grainger emails:
On the 1st WW names there are two I managed to get on the new memorial (D47.150) that were not recorded on the main war memorial (D47.174), their names are Matthew Middleton and Thomas Euen Nesham.

Nesham died after the war but I submitted his death certificate and army record to the CWGC in 2014, and they have added him to their database and the UK Book of Remembrance. He is buried at Jarrow and as there is a private headstone on his grave they will not erect a CWGC headstone but will look after the grave during their normal schedule to ensure it stays a fitting memorial for evermore.

Thomas Euan Nesham is remembered at Durham City on D47.150.