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This webpage is dedicated to the Five Fallen Teesdale postmen who gave their lives for our freedom in the Great War 1914 to 1918.
Serjeant GILMORE, John
Unit: 6th Bn.
Regiment: "Alexandra, Princess of Wales' Own (Yorkshire Regiment)"
Service No: 8403
Date of Death: 21 August 1915
How died: Killed in action
Commemoration: HELLES MEMORIAL
Theatre of war: Gallipoli, Turkey.
Panel 55 to 58.
Historical: The eight month campaign in Gallipoli was fought by Commonwealth and French forces in an attempt to force Turkey out of the war, to relieve the deadlock of the Western Front in France and Belgium, and to open a supply route to Russia through the Dardanelles and the Black Sea. The Allies landed on the peninsula on 25-26 April 1915; the 29th Division at Cape Helles in the south and the Australian and New Zealand Corps north of Gaba Tepe on the west coast, an area soon known as Anzac. On 6 August, further landings were made at Suvla, just north of Anzac, and the climax of the campaign came in early August when simultaneous assaults were launched on all three fronts. However, the difficult terrain and stiff Turkish resistance soon led to the stalemate of trench warfare. From the end of August, no further serious action was fought and the lines remained unchanged. The peninsula was successfully evacuated in December and early January 1916. The Helles Memorial serves the dual function of Commonwealth battle memorial for the whole Gallipoli campaign and place of commemoration for many of those Commonwealth servicemen who died there and have no known grave. The United Kingdom and Indian forces named on the memorial died in operations throughout the peninsula, the Australians at Helles. There are also panels for those who died or were buried at sea in Gallipoli waters. The memorial bears more than 21,000 names. There are four other Memorials to the Missing at Gallipoli. The Lone Pine, Hill 60, and Chunuk Bair Memorials commemorate Australian and New Zealanders at Anzac. The Twelve Tree Copse Memorial commemorates the New Zealanders at Helles. Naval casualties of the United Kingdom lost or buried at sea are recorded on their respective Memorials at Portsmouth, Plymouth and Chatham, in the UK.
Memorial Location: The Anzac and Suvla cemeteries are first signposted from the left hand junction of the Eceabat - Bigali Road. From this junction travel into the main Anzac area. Follow the road to Helles, opposite the Kabatepe Museum, at 14.2 KM take a right turn at the 'T' junction and at 14.3 KM. take the left fork. After a total of 22.8 KM, take a right turn to the memorial along a rough track 500m long. The Helles Memorial stands on the tip of the Gallipoli Peninsula. It takes the form of an obelisk over 30 M high that can be seen by ships passing through the Dardanelles.
Visiting: The Panel Numbers quoted at the end of each entry relate to the panels dedicated to the Regiment served with. In some instances where a casualty is recorded as attached to another Regiment, his name may alternatively appear within their Regimental Panels. Please refer to the on-site Memorial Register Introduction to determine the alternative panel numbers if you do not find the name within the quoted Panels.
More information on John Gilmore, obtained from The Friends of the Green Howards, has been added to the bottom of this page.
Steve of Wargraves writes: Sorry but out of that lot below we have only got the one [above] at Helles and that is not very clear but you are welcome... [John Gilmore's name is inscribed 6 names up on the centre left panel.] Visit us later and we may have more.
Good luck, Steve Rogers, Project Director, The British War Memorial Project Ltd.
Steve Rogers - Project Co-ordinator steve@twgpp.org
Steve has been involved in a number of projects over the last 10 years and now co-ordinates The War Graves Photographic Project. As an ex serviceman (Royal Navy) of 32 years he understands the need to provide such a facility for families of those who have not made it home. Steve is now employed with VT shipbuilders in Portsmouth and lives in Horndean, Hampshire with his wife Sandra and daughter Sophie.
Private LUMLEY, Harold Robert
Unit: 20th Bn.
Regiment: Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
Service No: PS/8964
Date of Death: 30 July 1916
How died: Died of wounds
Theatre of war: France & Flanders
Commemoration: CAUDRY OLD COMMUNAL CEMETERY France
Row A. Grave 2.
Cemetery Location: Caudry is a town some 13 kilometres east of Cambrai on the south side of the main road (N43) to Le Cateau. The Old Communal Cemetery is near the centre of town, but is best accessed from the eastern by-pass road (a dual carriageway). At the first set of traffic lights on this road turn right and head into town. The Cemetery is about 1 kilometre down this road (Rue Aristide Briard) on the right.
Visiting: Wheelchair access to the cemetery possible via main entrance.
Historical Information: Caudry town was the scene of part of the Battle of Le Cateau on the 26th August 1914, and from that date it remained in German hands until the 10th October 1918, when it was captured by the 37th Division. It had been a German centre for medical units, and during October 1918 and the following five months the 21st, 3rd, 19th, and 49th
Casualty Clearing Stations passed through it. There are now over 100, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, one-third are unidentified and three, which cannot now be exactly located, are represented by special memorials. Five, identified as a group but not individually, are marked with headstones bearing the additional words "Buried near this spot". This cemetery contained also French, German and Russian graves. The low curb on which the names of the British soldiers are inscribed was erected by the people of Caudry (whose War Memorial includes a representation of the entrance of British troops into the town); it has been supplemented by recumbent headstones.
'Soldiers Died in the Great War' records the above mentioned casualty's forenames as 'Harold Robert', that he was born in Barnard Castle, [County] Durham, enlisted in Barnard Castle and resided in New Shildon.
Private SHEPHERD, Thomas
Unit: 10th Bn.
Regiment: Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
Service No: D/22066
Age: 34
Date of Death: 27 October 1918
How died: Killed in action
Thearte of war: Italy
Commemoration: TEZZE BRITISH CEMETERY Italy
Plot 4. Row D. Grave 2.
Additional Information: Husband of Florence Shepherd, of Barningham, Barnard Castle, Co. Durham.
[Barningham is now in North Yorkshire and is delivered from Richmond.]
Cemetery Location: Tezze is a village in the Province of Treviso, a large town north of Venice. The village is 8 kilometres east of Susegana, a town on the main road some 24 kilometres north of Treviso. The British Military Cemetery lies about 270 metres south of the village of Tezze.
Visiting: The cemetery is permanently open and may be visited anytime. Wheelchair access possible via main entrance.
Historical Information: The Italians entered the war on the Allied side, declaring war on Austria, in May 1915. Commonwealth forces were at the Italian front between November 1917 and November 1918. The village of Tezze was captured by the Austrians in the advance in the autumn of 1917 and remained in their hands until the Allied forces crossed the River Piave at the end of October 1918. On 21 October 1918, Commonwealth forces comprising the XIVth Corps (7th and 23rd Divisions), which had been transferred from the Asiago sector, took over the part of the River Piave front from Salletuol to Palazzon, serving as part of the Italian Tenth Army. On the night of 23 October, the main channel of the river was crossed using small boats and the northern half of the island of Grava di Papadopoli was occupied, the occupation being completed two nights later by a combined Commonwealth and Italian force. After the capture of the island, the bridging of the Piave proceeded rapidly, although the strength of the current meant that the two bridges built for the crossing were frequently broken and many men were drowned. The Allied attack east of the Piave began early in the morning of 27 October. Despite stiff resistance and difficulties with bringing forward supporting troops across the river, the Austrians were forced back over the next few days until the Armistice came into effect on 4 November. Many of those who died on the north-east side of the river during the Passage of the Piave are buried in Tezze British Cemetery. It now contains 356 Commonwealth burials of the First World War.
'Soldiers Died in the Great War' records the above mentioned casualty as having been born in Cleatham [now spelt Cleatlam], [County] Durham, enlisting in Dalton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and residing in Barningham [now RICHMOND North Yorks], [County] Durham. It also records that he formerly served in the Royal Army Service Corps (R.A.S.C.) under service number 301904.
Please note that there are a total of 420 casualties listed in our records with the surname 'Thompson' and initial 'W' or 'W' plus another initial. We do not hold next of kin information for a many of these but for those that we do, none have the place name 'Barnard Castle' mentioned. 'Soldiers Died in The Great War' also does not record a 'Thompson' with a connection to Barnard Castle. I would therefore need more information on this casualty before I could conduct another search, such as the date he died, his regiment, full forename, age, parents or widows name and service number. In order to find this information, you could search local press archives to see if an obituary was placed after his death, church records or the local library, as they may have a local history collection which mentions him.
I hope this information is useful and please do not hesitate to contact me again if you find out any more information on 'W. Thompson'.
Could this be Private William Thompson born of Middleton-in-Teesdale, Co Durham?
Yes - confirmed: www.newmp.org.uk / www.findmypast.com:-
York and Lancaster Regiment 4th (Reserve) (T.F.) Bn
Enlisted: Middleton-in-Teesdale
Service number: 235403
Date died: 21 August 1918 - died at home
Formerley 31612, Yorkshire Light Infantry.
Private THOMPSON, William of York and Lancaster Regiment, 4th (Reserve) (T.F.) Battalion.
Born and enlisted in Middleton-in-Teesdale.
Service No: 235403 died August 21, 1918 aged 37
(Formerly 31612 of the Yorkshire Light Infantry.)
Commemoration: MIDDLETON-IN-TEESDALE (St. MARY) CHURCHYARD - in South part.
Husband of Aline M. Thompson.
(Source: 'Soldiers Died in the Great War' database.)
Private BAILEY , John
Unit: 19th Bn.
Regiment: Durham Light Infantry
Service No: 46685
Age: 18
Date of Death: 9 August 1918
How died: Killed in action
Theatre of war: France & Flanders
Commemoration: LINDENHOEK CHALET MILITARY CEMETERY
Belgium
Plot II. Row A. Grave 10.
Additional Information: Only son of John and Mary Elizabeth Bailey, of 4, Wood St., Barnard Castle, Co. Durham.
Cemetery Location: Lindenhoek Chalet Military Cemetery is located 9 kilometres south west of Ieper town centre on a road leading from the Kemmelseweg (N331), connecting Ieper to Kemmel. From Ieper town centre the Kemmelseweg is reached via the Rijselsestraat, through the Lille Gate (Rijselpoort) and straight on towards Armentieres (N365). 900 metres after the crossroads is the right hand turning onto the Kemmelseweg. Made prominent by a railway level crossing). Immediately after passing the village of Kemmel lies the Gremmerslinde, a right hand turning leading from the N331. The cemetery lies 500 metres along the Gremmerslinde on the right hand side of the road.
Visiting: The location or design of this site makes wheelchair access impossible. For further information regarding wheelchair access, please contact our Enquiries Section on telephone number 01628 507200.
Historical: The first burials were made in the cemetery in March 1915 and it continued to be used by fighting units and field ambulances until October 1917. It was enlarged after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields surrounding Kemmel. There are now 315 servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. 67 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to six casualties known or believed to be buried among them. The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden.
'Soldiers Died in the Great War' records the above mentioned
casualty's forename as 'John', that he was born in Barnard Castle, enlisted in Newcastle and resided in Barnard Castle.
We are endebted to Mrs Sarah Quinn of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for this detailed information on our five fallen Postmen.
www.cwgc.org
A full list of those from Barnard Castle who fell in the Great War can be found at St. Mary's Parish Church, Barnard Castle. It takes the form of a memorial doorway above which is a shield that contains a legend.
Edward Nicholl, who runs the website of the 'Friends of the Green Howards Museum' writes:-
re. John Gilmore and William Thompson.
Unfortunately, I cannot add anything about William Thompson.
The only additional information that I have on John Gilmore is that he was born in Barnard Castle, enlisted in Richmond, and resided in Barnard Castle.
However, the fact that John Gilmore was in the 6th Battalion and died on 21 August 1915 means that he was involved in action with the Yorkshire Regiment at Gallipoli.
The 6th Battalion landed at Suvla Bay on 6 August 1915. After an initial success, the 6th Battalion then became trapped in a hellish situation, - short of food and water and confronted by a dogged enemy. On 21 August there was a final attempt at a breakout, and the Yorkshire Regiment went over the top. However, this resulted in considerable slaughter, with 5 of their 8 officers being killed and the other 3 wounded. The Quartermaster was left in charge of the 100 or so troops who continued the attack up to the Turkish first line. The next day these survivors had to fall back to their starting point.
The Gallipoli campaign in 1915 resulted in a very high number of casualties in the 6th Battalion.
I hope that this small amount of additional information is of some help.
Please get back to me if I can be of any further assistance.
Best wishes,
Edward.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends". JOHN 15:13.
Commonwealth War Grave: Thompson 1918
In St. Mary the Virgin Churchyard, Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham, is a Commonwealth War Grave which reads:
235403 Private
W. Thompson
York & Lancaster Regt.
21st August 1918 age 37
