Thomas EVANS Private 270055, 12 th Durham Light Infantry. Died 11 th July 1917. Thomas Evans was born in Crook about 1889. His father, John, a coal miner, was originally from Staffordshire, while his mother, Dorothy, was born farther up the Wear Valley. The 1891 Census shows the family living at Welsh Row in Crook. By the time of the 1901 Census Thomas was living in Gateshead, and is shown as a castman in the coal industry. A decade later he was working as a coal miner hewer, living with his wife and sons in Dunston, on the south bank of the River Tyne. By the time of the war, however, Thomas had returned to his native region of County Durham and was living in Victoria Cottages in Howden-le-Wear. He was working at Bowden Close Colliery at nearby Helmington Row, before he enlisted in the Durham Light Infantry. Thomas enlisted in the 12 th DLI, and arrived in France on the 27 th October 1915. The 12 th DLI took part in various major battles, during one of which he was awarded the Military Medal for extreme gallantry. On the 10 th July 1917 his battalion went back into the front line trenches, where Thomas lost his life the following day. It is unclear whether or not his body was recovered, but Private Thomas Evans is remembered in Oxford Road Cemetery, near Ypres. The Auckland Chronicle of Thursday 23 rd August 1917 reported that a Memorial Service was held in the Parish Church, Howden-le-Wear, on the previous Sunday morning for two of its own, David Etherington and Thomas Evans.

Remembering Our Fallen

Howden-le-Wear History Society