4th Territorial Battalion

Thirlwell Storey, the sixth child of John Storey and Elizabeth Reed, was born at Bankfoot, Blenkinsopp, Northumberland on the 22nd of July 1883. On leaving school he was employed as a coalminer at a local pit. He married Margaret Forster at Haltwhistle Registrars Office on the 30th of July 1906. At the outbreak of the 1st World War he was 31, had moved to Prudhoe and had six children. He enlisted in 'D' Prudhoe Company of the 4th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers in 1914, embarking for France with the rest of the Battalion on the 20th of April 1915.

Thirlwell wrote a letter to a brother in Haltwhistle which was published in the Hexham Courant newspaper on the 17th July 1915: “We have come back once more for a rest. Yesterday we had a long march, and the day being very hot, many of our company dropped out owing to the heat. We expect going to a fresh part of the firing line. So much the better for us, as we have had a very rough time of it. the trenches which we have left were in a big wood and we could talk to the Germans in some parts we were so near to them. When we relieved the Royal Irish Fusiliers we gave the Germans a few rounds of rapid to let them know we had landed.

They kept very quiet the time we were there. Our company made an attack about half a mile from where I was, and previous to this our artillery had given them about two hours heavy bombardment. We did not forget to scatter them and they all bolted when we made the attack, so our men could not get a shot at them and had to practise shooting birds.

I had a bit crack with William Dent and told him you were asking after him. Two of my mates have got killed and three wounded the time we have been up. John Robson and Cudd Bells son, Harry got killed. A rifle grenade dropped in the trench the night before, but I had not to go with them or I might easily have been amongst them. We get well supplied with tobacco and have a good lot on hand now. When a chap gets a 'canny' wound on the leg or the arm the men call him lucky, but they don't say that about the gas, they all want to be clear of it as soon as possible”.

Pte T. Storey was hit by a shell fragment in the vicinity of Bedford House (French Chateau) support lines on the 6th of March 1916. He is buried in Plot I.L.32 at Railway Dugouts Burial Ground, Ypres, West Vlaanderen, Belgium.

PTE. T STOREY, 4th N.F., KILLED

In our last issue we announced that Pte T Storey, 4th NF, of Prudhoe, had been killed in action. Mrs Storey, his widow, has now received - the following letters: -

4th N.F

B.E.F

6/5/16

Dear Mrs Storey,

I was deeply grieved to hear last night of your husband's death, and I wish to express my sincerest sympathy with you in your great loss. During the time I was in command of 'D' Company, I knew him as one of our best men, a hard worker, and a favourite alike with officers and men. We shall miss him badly, and can n well realise the greatness of your bereavement.-

I am, yours sincerely,

J Ridley Robb,

Capt,

4th N.F.

March 5/16

4th N.F

B.E.F

Dear Mrs Storey

It is with the greatest regret that I have to inform you that your husband was killed this afternoon. He was hit by a fragment of shell and died instantaneously. He will be buried tonight, the exact spot of his grave will be forwarded later. He was cheerful and ever willing to perform any task allotted to him, and he will be greatly missed by everyone in the Company. In writing these few words I am expressing the deepest sympathy of the officers and men of the Prudhoe Company towards you in your great bereavement.

Believe me to be, yours very sincerely,

J.T Henderson,

2nd Lieut,

4th N.F.