World War 1
Search the known records to date of those lost from the wider Alnwick area in World War 1
Generally showing where they are commemorated, when they died and some basic facts about each person. There are gaps, however, so if you can fill in any missing details do please contact us.
Thomas Nettleship
Forename(s):
Thomas
Surname:
Nettleship
Initial(s):
T
Service Number:
Officer
Rank:
2nd Lieutenant
Regiment:
Northumberland Fusiliers, 1/5th Battalion Territorial Force
Died:
22/03/1918
Aged:
32
Buried:
Pozières Memorial (Pozières British Cemetery)
Service History:
Joined the Northumberland Hussars Imperial Yeomanry in May 1902.
Volunteered for active service on the outbreak of war, & joined the Northumberland Fusiliers in August 1914, attached to the 2nd Battalion. Served with the BEF in France & Flanders from January 1915.
Wounded at Ypres the following June, & invalided home. On recovery Nettleship was attached to the Northumberland Fusiliers' 8th (Service) Battalion & sent with reinforcements to Gallipoli in August 1915. On evacuation of the peninsula, in January 1916, he proceeded to Egypt, & subsequently returned to France the same year.
Given a commission, & gazetted 2nd Lieutenant, the 1/5th Battalion of his regiment, on 30 October 1917.
Killed in action at St. Christ, on the Somme, during the 1918 German spring offensive. Buried where he fell.
His Commanding Officer wrote:
'Although he was only in my company a few days he had proved himself as an exceedingly brave & cool officer, as well as a very efficient one. His loss is deeply felt.'
Nettleship had only been with the battalion to which he was finally posted for about 3 days when he was killed.
(Source: 'UK, De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour 1914-18'; 2003 Naval & Military Press reprint; Originally published in 1922; Part 4; Page 143)
Background:
Born at Alnwick, Northumberland, on 4 August 1885, the eldest son of Elizabeth Nettleship (née Wilson) & the late Charles Nettleship, of 5, Howick Street, Alnwick, Northumberland.
One of two sons lost: see, also, 2nd Lieut. Mark Nettleship (King's Own Scottish Borderers, 1st Battalion, attached to 1/4th [The Border] Battalion Territorial Force; Died 1 September 1918).
Nettleship was educated at the Duke's School, Alnwick
Local Memorial:
Alnwick War Memorial
Alnwick, Memorial Plaque in former premises of the DukeÂ’s School
(Source: For Duke's School, Dudley George; August 2018)
