|
|
|
20th (1st Tyneside Scottish) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers
20th Battalion, 1st Tyneside Scottish, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers was raised in 1914 in Newcastle mainly from men of Scottish decent from the North East. Initially training in Newcastle City centre the 1st Tyneside Scottish moved to Alnwick camp, in the grounds of Alnwick castle on the 29th of January 1915. They joined 102nd Brigade, 34th Division at Ripon in June 1915. In late August they moved to Salisbury Plain to begin final training. They proceeded to France in January 1916 and concentrated at La Crosse, east of St Omer. They were in action during the Battles of the Somme, including the capture of Scots and Sausage Redoubts, attacking just north of the village of La Boisselle, not far from Albert. At 7.28 am on 1st July 1916 two great mines were detonated beneath the German positions, one to the north of the village and one to the south. At 7.30 am the whistles sounded and the attack began. The 1st Tyneside Scottish had 500 yards to cover, under heavy machine gun fire, before reaching the German lines, 26 Officers and 564 men from this battalion lost thier lives. In 1917 they fought in the The First and Second Battles of the Scarpe and the The Battle of Arleux during the Arras Offensive. In August they were involved in the fighting at Hargicourt and in October they took part in The Third Battles of Ypres at the Broenbeek. In 1918 they were in action in The Battle of St Quentin and then moved to Flanders seeing action in The Battle of Estaires, The Battle of Bailleul and The First Battle for Kemmel Ridge during the Battles of the Lys, suffering heavy losses. The 34th Division was then withdrawn from fighting and on the 21st of April they moved to the area west of Poperinge for reorganisation and was engaged in digging a new defensive line between Abeele and Watou. On the 13th of May the infantry units moved to the area around Lumbres and reduced to a cadre which was then employed in the training of newly arrived American troops. By the 1st of July 1918 34th Division had been reconstituted and returned to action, at The Battles of the Soissonais, the Ourcq and the capture of Baigneux Ridge. They took part in the Final Advance in Flanders and at the Armistice was at rest in the area east of Courtrai. 34th Division was selected to join the Army of Occupation and began to move towards Germany on the 14th of November. On the 22nd of December a large number men with industrial and mining skills were demobilised. By the end of January 1919 the Division was occupying the Cologne bridgehead.
26th Sep 1915 On the Move
16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme
19th Oct 1915 Resigration for Tyneside Scottish progressing The Evening Chronicle, Newcastle upon Tyne reports on Monday, 19th October 1914: "The registration of men for the Tyneside Scottish Battalion is proceeding with a rapidity entirely gratifying to those responsible for raising the unit. The pipe and drum parade on Saturday followed by the recruiting meeting at the town hall, was very successful and resulted in some 170 names being secured."
1st Dec 1915 Derby Scheme Armlets
11th Sep 1915 Last day of Derby Scheme Recruitment
8th Jan 1916 On the Move
9th Jan 1916 On the Move
9th Jan 1916 On the Move
10th Jan 1916 Group System Reopens
10th Jan 1916 On the Move
12th Jan 1916 Locations
15th Jan 1916 On the Move By the 15th of January 1916 all units of 34th Division had arrive in France and concentrated at La Crosse, east of St Omer.
16th Jan 1916 Organisation
20th Jan 1916 Inspection
21st Jan 1916 Orders
21st Jan 1916 Instruction 
22nd Jan 1916 Orders Issued
23rd Jan 1916 On the Move
23rd Jan 1916 In Reserve
24th Jan 1916 Inspection
25th Jan 1916 Instruction
26th Jan 1916 On Alert
27th Jan 1916 Emergeny Scheme
28th Jan 1916 Emergeny Scheme
9th February 1916 Call Ups
19th Feb 1916 Move
29th Mar 1916 Stores
3rd Jun 1916 20th Northumberlands under fire
28th June Letters Home The raider did not get much rest for on the 27th and 28th the Battalions of 34th Division began to move forward. This in preparation for the opening of the attack.
For the previous four days the British Artillery had been bombarding the German trenches.
Every man in the Brigade was aware that the opening of the offensive was very close.
Before setting off for the front line men wrote what could be their last letters home.
However the date and time of attack was to be delayed by forty eight hours.
Heavy summer rain had fallen on the 26th and 27th there was a great possibility of flooding. On the 28th June the decision was taken to postpone the attack.
The Divisional and Brigade staff Officers had the job of halting and turning around those battalions on their way to the front line.
1st Jul 1916 34th Division in Action
1st Sep 1916 Artillery in Action
2nd Sep 1916 Quiet
3rd Sep 1916 Quiet
4th Sep 1916 Visit
5th Sep 1916 Stormy
6th Sep 1916 Instruction
7th Sep 1916 Artillery Active
8th Sep 1916 Bombardment
9th Sep 1916 Orders
10th Sep 1916 Quiet
11th Sep 1916 Preparations
12th Sep 1916 Reliefs
12th Sep 1916 Orders
13th Sep 1916 Wire Cutting
14th Sep 1916 Raid
15th Sep 1916 Trench Raids
16th Sep 1916 Bombardment
17th Sep 1916 Orders
18th Sep 1916 Trench Raids
19th Sep 1916 Orders
20th Sep 1916 Orders
21st Sep 1916 Quiet
22nd Sep 1916 Arrivals
23rd Sep 1916 Orders
24th Sep 1916 Trench Mortars
25th Sep 1916 Shelling
26th Sep 1916 Some Shelling
27th Sep 1916 Trench Mortars
28th Sep 1916 Training & Reliefs
29th Sep 1916 Wire Cutting
30th Sep 1916 Trench Raid
1st Oct 1916 Quiet
2nd Oct 1916 Quiet
3rd Oct 1916 Shelling
4th Oct 1916 Orders
5th Oct 1916 Wire Cut
6th Oct 1916 Rounds Fired
7th Oct 1916 Trench Raid
8th Oct 1916 Artillery Active
9th Oct 1916 Quiet
10th Oct 1916 Quiet
11th Oct 1916 Course
12th Oct 1916 Trench Raids
14th Oct 1916 Reliefs
19th Oct 1916 Orders Issued
20th Oct 1916 Trench Raids
21st Oct 1916 Enemy Aircraft
22nd Oct 1916 Artillery Active
23rd Oct 1916 Artillery Active
24th Oct 1916 Experiment
25th Oct 1916 Artillery Active
26th Oct 1916 Wire Cutting
27th Oct 1916 Artillery Active
28th Oct 1916 Artillery in Action
29th Oct 1916 Heavy Shelling
30th Oct 1916 Artillery Active
31st Oct 1916 Warning
5th Jun 1917 In Action
6th Jun 1917 In Action
6th Jun 1917 In Action
14th Jun 1917 Relief
17th Jun 1917 Relief
27th Sep 1917 Reliefs
2nd of January 1918 Shelling
6th of January 1918 In the Front Line
6th of January 1918 Reliefs Complete
10th of January 1918 Thaw Continues
14th of January 1918 Enemy Patrol Retires
14th of January 1918 Enemy Patrol Retires
17th January 1918 Machine Guns Active
20th of January 1918 Another Relief
21st of January 1918 A Surrender
23rd of January 1918 Prisoner Captured
29th of January 1918 Divisional HQ Moves
31st of January 1918 Training
1st of February 1918 Battalions to be Disbanded
3rd of February 1918 Reinforcements Arrive
24th of February 1918 Billets Inspected
28th of February 1918 On the Move
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
|
| Want to know more about 20th (1st Tyneside Scottish) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers? There are:5339 items tagged 20th (1st Tyneside Scottish) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.
|
|
Those known to have served with20th (1st Tyneside Scottish) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers during the Great War 1914-1918. - Anderson Edward. Pte. (d.28th December 1916 )
- Ball Alexander Foster. Pte. (d.1st July 1916)
- Barrow Thomas William. Pte. (d.23rd Feb 1916)
- Bell Robert Henry. Pte. (d.1st July 1916)
- Black Lewis Younie. Sgt (d.1st Jul 1916)
- Bone William. Pte. (d.1st July 1916)
- Cassidy John. L/Cpl. (d.17th July 1917)
- Chilton Robert. L/Cpl. (d.1st July 1916)
- Chrisp John. L/Cpl. (d.1st July 1916)
- Collins James. Pte. (d.1st July 1916)
- Collins James. Pte. (d.1st July 1916)
- Cowell John. Pte. (d.11th Dec 1915)
- Dale Richard. CSM
- Davison Richard. Pte. (d.1st Jul 1916)
- Dobinson Robert. Pte. (d.1st July 1916 )
- Douglas John. Pte.
- Downey Charles. Pte. (d.5th June 1917)
- Edwards Charles.
- Edwards James.
- Fellows John William. Piper. (d.1st July 1916)
- Graham John. Sjt.
- Graham Thomas Whittle. Pte.
- Grant William Henry. Sergeant
- Hadden Ernest Crawford. Pte. (d.5th June 1917)
- Henderson James. Pte. (d.1st July, 1916)
- Hopps Thomas. Pte. (d.1st Jul 1916)
- Innes-Hopkins C. H.. Lt.Col.
- Jeffreys A H. Capt (d.6th Nov 1916)
- Kerr A. E.. Mjr.
- Knott Robert Cecil. Capt (d.14th Aug 1916)
- Laverick MM John George. Sgt.
- Laws Isaac.
- Laws Isaac. Pte. (d.1st Jul 1916)
- MacLaren Robert. Pte. (d.1st July 1916)
- Nuttall Tom. Pte.
- Orr David. Sgt. (d.5th June 1917)
- Preston Simon. Pte. (d.1st Jul 1916)
- Preston Thomas. (d.6th June 1917)
- Reay George. Pte. (d.5th Jun 1917)
- Reed John Joseph. Pte. (d.5th March 1917)
- Robson George. Cpl. (d.5th Jun 1917)
- Scott Thomas Wilson. Pte. (d.1st July 1916)
- Stephenson John Mossop. Cpl. (d.1st Jul 1916 )
- Thompson MM. George Arthur. L/Cpl.
- Thompson Henry Donnison. Pte. (d.1st July 1916)
- Tucker Lione Louis Clerici. 2nd Lt. (d.1st July 1916)
- Wardrope John. Pte. (d.19th April 1917)
- Weatherhead James. Pte.
- Wile Ralph. Pte. (d.1st July 1916)
All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please Add a Name to this List
Records of 20th (1st Tyneside Scottish) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers from other sources.
|
|
The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.
- 1st of September 2024 marks 25 years since the launch of the Wartime Memories Project. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over this time.
|
Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the Great War? Our
Library contains many many diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text.
|
Looking for help with Family History Research?
Please see Family History FAQ's
Please note: We are unable to provide individual research.
|
|
Can you help?
The free to access section of The Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers and funded by donations from our visitors.
If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web.
If you enjoy this site
please consider making a donation.
Announcements
- 19th Nov 2024
Please note we currently have a massive backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than
264989 your submission is still in the queue, please do not resubmit.
Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to the Great War. If you have any unwanted
photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them. The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted.
|
World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great battalion regiment artillery
Did you know? We also have a section on World War Two. and a
Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations.
|
|
|
Pte. Thomas Whittle Graham 20th (1st Tyneside Scottish) Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers My paternal grandfather, Thomas Whittle Graham, enlisted on 13/1/15 and was posted to A Coy, 20th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers on 25/2/15.
On 3rd June 1916 at Albert, France he was wounded by shell fire (see Bn War Diary extract). As a consequence of his wounds, his right leg was amputated.
He was subsequently evacuated to the UK and spent time at Wordsley Hospital (noted for its pioneering plastic surgery unit), near Stourbridge, Worcs. It was here that he met a nurse called May Wale, whom he later married. In the family group photo with his wife, parents and brother-in-law, he is wearing his Silver War Badge.
|
Pte. Tom Nuttall 20th (Tyneside Scottish) Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers  Tom Nuttall was my maternal grandfather who fought in WW1.
He was born on 28 February 1891 in Bury, Lancashire.
He joined the Tyneside Scottish and went off to war when he must have been 22 or 23yrs old. This is what I know of his story in the war.
Going over the top whilst fighting he was gassed in both lungs as well as shot in the chest and was left lying for an indeterminable time in no man’s land, assumed to be dead.
His body, still breathing, was later found by the Germans and he was pulled behind their lines and taken to what I assume was a German field hospital. Both lungs were badly damaged and a German surgeon removed the one lung which was irreparable, and left one damaged lung remaining. This surgeon cared for my grandfather and was the main cause of bringing Tom back to life. I gather that the surgeon spoke English and that he let slip (intentionally?) clues as to where the field hospital was in relation to the lines.
When my grandfather had recovered enough energy he somehow managed to escape from the hospital and with the clues he had gathered whilst he was a sick and wounded patient he managed to find his way back to the British lines. I don’t know how long that journey took, or how he made it. I believe that despite his wounds he went on to fight again before the war ended.
His one remaining damaged lung meant that he always had trouble breathing for the rest of his life, but he never complained. He died in his 60s. Like so many men he rarely talked of his war experiences, but my mother (his daughter) when she was young used to listen outside the door on occasions when his few surviving friends would visit him at home and they would share tales of their harrowing war experiences together. She was fascinated and later, when she was an adult herself, she asked him questions and got the story.
|
Pte. John Wardrope 20th (Tyneside Scottish) Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers (d.19th April 1917) John Wardrope died of wounds on the 19th of April 1917 and is buried in the Etaples Military Cemetery in France. He was the husband of Alice Wardrope of Newcastle upon Tyne and Father of Lucy.
|
Pte. Thomas Hopps 20th (1st Tyneside Scottish) Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers (d.1st Jul 1916) Before the war, Thomas Hopps (1891-1916) worked at Westerton Colliery. At age 27, just before the war broke out, he married Florence Robinson. He joined up with a Pals' Battalion in 1915 - the 20th Northumberland Fusiliers (1st Tyneside Scottish).
Four of these battalions made up the 102nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade. While an application for kilt or trews was rejected, they were granted pipe bands and use of the Glengarry cap, with a small patch of tartan to be added behind the fusilier's badge after the soldier's first action. The CSM joked that if enough of them got killed the survivors could club together to make a kilt from the remaining patches.
At Christmas 1915, they were granted their first home leave but reported back to barracks a day late. Although it looks like this was a genuine administrative error, it was decided to make an example of them anyway and they were placed in the first wave of the Battle of the Somme on the 1st July 1916. After two huge mines were exploded in the sector, they were sent over the top at 7.30am to attack the fortified village of La Boiselle, across 3km of open ground in the face of withering German machine gun fire. By 8 o'clock there were just a handful of survivors. The Tyneside Scottish suffered the worst casualties of any brigade that day. The 1st Battalion (about 800 men) lost 584 men, the 3rd lost 537 men while the 4th Battalion lost 629. All four battalion commanders were killed. In total, the British lost 5,000 at Ovillers; the Germans only 280.
As they went 'over the top' each company was played over by their pipers, and they played on as they advanced into a deadly crossfire from machine guns. In a matter of about 10 minutes some 80 per cent of the leading battalions had become casualties, including all four Tyneside Scottish Battalion commanders and 15 out of the 16 company commanders. Many senior NCOs had also been killed or wounded. One old soldier remarked, 'It took twelve months to build our battalion but just twelve minutes to destroy it'.
The body of Thomas Hopps was found at Trench Map reference 57d X14, to the north of La Boiselle. He was exhumed from a temporary grave with a wooden cross that he shared with an unknown corporal of the Middlesex Regiment and reburied at Ovillers Military Cemetery XIII. F. 4. He is also commemorated on a plaque ('Pvte T. Hopps N.F.') in Whitworth Church, in the grounds of Whitworth Hall.
His name appears on the Somme Roll of Honour.
|
Piper. John William Fellows 20th (Tyneside Scottish) Btn, No.1 Coy. Northumberland Fusiliers (d.1st July 1916)  John Fellows was my great, great uncle. He served with the 20th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers in WW1 and was 21 when he died at the Battle of the Somme on 1st of July 1916.
He was a piper in the Battalion band. Family memories of him were that he could pick up any instrument and play it, he was very musical. This is particularly poignant for me as I too am very musical. I have been head of music in a high school for 25 years. He was known as John Willie.
John's uncle Tom was also in the same Battalion but he survived the war. He said the last time he saw John he had thrown down his bagpipes and was running towards the Germans drawing his bayonet. The pipers of the 20th Battalion led the troops into battle on the very first day of the Battle of the Somme. John would literally have been right at the front, playing his pipes to stir morale, and probably as a result, one of the first men to die in the battle of the Somme. He was my great grandma's brother.
John's initial training was in Newcastle, then they moved on to the grounds of Alnwick Castle before completing training in 1915 on Salisbury Plain.
Once in France his Battalion moved to La Boiselle. He was in France for approx 6 months and died somewhere near La Boiselle, I think near where 2 large craters were created. I feel very proud of him but also deeply moved that he died at such a young age, unable to have a family of his own.
We have a photo of him in his uniform and kilt. I will make sure my own children know all about him. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial and I hope to visit one day to pay my respects.
Son of William and Martha Fellows of 29, Weardale Avenue, Walker, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
I would dearly love to find out more about him.
|
Cpl. George Robson 20th Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers (d.5th Jun 1917) George Robson's body was never recovered, he is remembered on the Arras Memorial to the missing.
Aged 22, he was the son of George and Mary Jane Robson of 50 Stavordale Street, Dawdon, Seaham, Co. Durham.
|
Pte. John Cowell 20th Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers (d.11th Dec 1915) John Cowell is my great great grandad. I was told he didn't get to the Somme with the other men as he died in hospital in 1915 at Old Sareham of the flu.
His grave is at High Pit Cemetery in Cramlington
|
Pte. William Bone 20th (Tyneside Scottish) Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers (d.1st July 1916) William Bone was killed on the Somme on the 1st of July 1916.
|
Pte. Robert Henry "Bob" Bell 20th Battalion Tyneside Scottish Northumberland Fusiliers (d.1st July 1916) Private Robert Henry Bell, of the 20th Battalion Tyneside Scottish, MIA on 1st July 1916. Currently searching for images of him, none we can pinpoint as him. Enlisted and was sent to Alnwick Camp in 1915, before being shipped off in 1916.
He wrote back to his mother and sister often to let them know he was doing well and "in good health" however following a period there were no postcards, followed by a card from a friend which states "so sorry to hear about Bobby" a couple of months later.
His mother was Hannah Wilson (formerly Bell) and his father was the late Jacob Bell, they lived in West Allotment, Shiremoor, in 7 Miner's Cottage.
The name Robert is still carried through the family, as is his memory.
|
Cpl. John Mossop Stephenson 20th (1st Tyneside Scottish) Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers (d.1st Jul 1916 ) My great-grandfather John Stephenson was killed in the Battle of the Somme at La Boisselle.
|
Pte. Henry Donnison Thompson 20th Battalion (1st Tyneside Scottish) Northumberland Fusiliers (d.1st July 1916) I have the WW1 medals and Death Plaque of Henry Donnison Thompson as they have been passed down to me from my family. Henry he was my great grandfather's older brother and was born in 1893. Henry was a coal miner before serving, living in the North East of England.
After researching my family history I found out that Henry's father, William Boston Thompson, also went to war at the age of 44 serving in the 5th Advanced Remount Squadron looking after the horses in France. William survived the war but Henry was killed in action on 1st July 1916 aged just 24.
|
Pte. James Collins 20th (Tyneside Scottish) Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers (d.1st July 1916) James Collins was originally born in Worksop, and later moved to Ashington. He enlisted in Newcastle in 1914, and fell on 1st July 1916.
A husband and father, and remembered with many of his pals on the Thiepval Memorial, and by his family.
|
Pte. Ernest Crawford Hadden 20th (Tyneside Scottish) Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers (d.5th June 1917) Ernest Hadden probably died during the attack on Greenland Hill. The 20th Btn attacked on the right, the attack was at 8pm.
|
Pte. Robert MacLaren 20th (1st Tyneside Scottish) Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers (d.1st July 1916) Robert's wife, Annie - nee Carr - emigrated to Melbourne, Australia with their son, also Robert, in 1928/9. Annie died in 1938. Her son Robert had four children [of which I am one] and at the end of his life, in 1992, was grandfather of eleven.
Such is the legacy of the 26 year-old Robert MacLaren who died on that awful day, 1/7/1916.
|
Pte. James Collins 20th (Tyneside Scottish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (d.1st July 1916) James Collins was killed on the 1st of July 1916
|
Pte. John Douglas 20th Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers My grandfather, Private John Douglas, was presented with a "Card of Honour - 34th Division" which stated:
"Your Brigadier has reported that during the operations E. of Hargicourt 27th to 31st August 1917 you showed great devotion to duty whilst acting as a Company Runner delivering messages with promptitude between the front line and Battalion Headquarters, frequently under heavy artillery and rifle fire and I hereby award you a Card of Honour.
Signed, Major General Nicholson. Commanding 34th Division. Card No. 221"
John Douglas was severely wounded and gassed, had a metal plate inserted into his fractured skull, and lost a knee cap; he had to wear iron supports on his leg. In 1919, John resumed work as a Buyer for Marshall & Snelgrove. He passed away in 1936.
|
Thomas Preston 20th (Tyneside Scottish) Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers (d.6th June 1917) Thomas Preston was born in 1898 in Trimdon, Durham, one of eight children of Thomas Preston, a coal miner, and Jemima Henderson. In 1911 the family were living at 7 Wynyard Street, Dawdon, Seaham Harbour.
Thomas served with the Northumberland Fusiliers, 2Oth Tyneside Scottish Btn and was killed on 5th June 1917. He is commemorated at the Sunken Road Cemetery, Fampoux, France, and also on a Memorial Plaque in the Dawdon Miners Lodge. Thomas's older brother Simon, born in 1892 in Trimdon, enlisted in the Northumberland Fusiliers, 22nd Tyneside Scottish Btn.
|
2nd Lt. Lione Louis Clerici Tucker 20th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (d.1st July 1916) Lione Tucker served as a Second Lieutenant with 20th Bn. (Tyneside Scottish) Northumberland Fusilers. He was killed in action on 1st July 1916, son of Frances G. Tucker and the late Albert Tucker of 18 King Street, South Shields. He is commerated on the Thiepval Memorial.
|
Pte. Simon Preston 20th (Tyneside Scottish) Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers (d.1st Jul 1916)  Simon Preston was born in 1892 at Trimdon Foundry, Durham, the eldest son and one of eight children of Thomas Preston,a coal miner, and Jemima Henderson. In 1911 the family were living at 7 Wynyard Street, Dawdon, Seaham Harbour, Simon aged 19 was a miner, coal putter underground.
In 1914 he married my Aunt, (my father's sister), Florence Beatrice Bailey I believe at St Hild & St Helen's Church Dawdon. They had no children.
He enlisted in the Northumberland Fusiliers, 20th (Tyneside Scottish) Battalion. He was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1st July 1916, his medal card records him as presumed dead.
Simon is commemorated at The Thiepval Memorial and also on a Memorial Plaque in the Dawdon Miners Lodge.
Simon's brother Thomas born in 1898 in Trimdon, enlisted in the Northumberland Fusiliers, 22nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade, he was killed 5th June 1917 and is commemorated at the Sunken Road Cemetery, Fampoux, France, and also on a Memorial Plaque in the Dawdon Miners Lodge.
|
Pte. Edward Anderson 20th (Tyneside Scottish) Bn. Northumberland Fusiilers (d.28th December 1916 ) Edward Anderson was my grandfather and was killed on 28th December 1916 while mending trenches in Armentieres. He was wounded on the first day of the Somme - shot in the head he did not survive.
Edward originally tried to enlist in the Artillery but his doctor said he was unfit to enlist he went and enlisted in the Tynesideside Scottish.
Edward was the father of three children when he enlisted and a miner.
What drove him to enlist no one knows but he gave his life like many others.
He may not have won any medals but he is a hero to me and I have I visited his grave at Ration Farm, La Chapelle-d'Armentieres on several occasions.
|
Recomended Reading.Available at discounted prices.
|
|
|
Site Home
Help & FAQs
