John Thomas Petty (1894-1982)
Commissioned from the ranks of 14th battalion, Durham Light Infantry, to the Northumberland Fusiliers
John Thomas Petty was born in Whitby in 1894 to John and Mary Petty (nee Husband). The family moved to Marske shortly afterwards, and after several more moves, found themselves in Headlam, near Gainford, County Durham, around 1908 when John was 14 years old. According to the census, the family were still there in 1911, and John was working as a farm labourer. He enlisted with the army on 11 August 1914, and found himself a private in the 14th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry (14 DLI), one of Kitchener’s new battalions.
During their training period, Private Petty earned a second class certificate in musketry, and a distinguished certificate in machine gun training. He was actually top of the class, and was promoted to gunner sergeant. He also received training in the Lewis gun.
14 DLI arrived in France in September 1915 and were soon fighting as part of 21st Division in the Battle of Loos. Their first experience of fighting was not successful, they lost ten officers and men killed, including the commanding officer, and nearly 300 wounded.
In November 1915, the battalion transferred to the 18th Brigade in 6th Division, joining 2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. They moved to the Ypres and Potijze area of Belgium, and remained there for several months. On 30 April 1916, Sergeant Petty was mentioned in despatches for gallant and distinguished services in the field. September 1916 saw them involved in the Battle of the Somme, though not heavily, mostly in the Trones Wood and Gueudecourt area.
Petty had obviously made an impression. In January 1917, he began officer training in North Wales, at the end of which he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Northumberland Fusiliers, gazetted May 1917. He joined his new unit in France in June 1917 and remained with them until 8 April 1918 when he was gassed.
Second Lieutenant Petty was moved to a hospital in Britain, finally being fit for service in October 1918. During this time he married Lucy Cunliffe, a kitchen maid at Headlam Hall, by special licence at Ripon Cathedral. He re-joined his regiment at East Boldon, and remained there through the end of the war, but returned to the Western Front on 25 November 1918. Some, if not all, of Petty’s time with the Northumberland Fusiliers was spent with the 18th Battalion, as written on his officer’s field wallet. He left the army in January 1919.
After the war, Petty found himself in Shildon, and became a manager of the sewage works for Shildon Urban District Council. He and his wife had twin boys in January 1923, Douglas and Alan, and a daughter, Helen, was born in May 1929.
During the Second World War, Petty was the head of the Auxiliary Fire Service at Shildon, and undertook anti-gas training at Hawkhills, North Yorkshire. He received the 1939-45 Defence Medal.
He remained in Shildon until his death in May 1982.
Sources:
Family research and original documents
1901 and 1911 census (via Ancestry)
14th Battalion DLI War Diary
Civil Parish: Headlam
Birth date: 11-Jan-1894
Death date: 4-May-1982
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: High Street, Marske, North Yorkshire
Headlam, Gainford, County Durham
8 Whinfell Terrace, Shildon, County Durham
Eden Grange, Shildon, County Durham
12 Henry Street, Shildon, County Durham (on retirement)
Religion: Church of England (confirmed at Gainford St Mary, 21-May-1913)
Employment: Farm labourer, Gainford (1911 Census)
Sewage works manager, Shildon Urban District Council (after First World War)
Family: Wife: Lucy Cunliffe, married 7 September 1918
Children: Alan and Douglas (twins) born at Whinfell Terrace, Shildon, 11 January 1923; Helen born at Eden Grange, Shildon, 12 May 1929
Military service:
11-Aug-1914 13650, Private, 14th Durham Light Infantry
Sep-1915 – Dec-1916 Durham Light Infantry, France, Private and Sergeant
8-Jan-1917 – 26-Apr-1917 Army Cadet School, Wales
26-Apr-1917 commissioned Second Lieutenant, Northumberland Fusiliers, gazetted May 1917
13-Jun-1917 – 6-Apr-1918 Northumberland Fusiliers, France
8-Apr-1918 – 10-Oct-1918 hospital, England, gassed
25-Nov-1918 – 19-Jan-1919 [Northumberland Fusiliers], France
Medal(s): 1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Electoral Register:
Register No: 1157
Forename: John Thomas
Surname: Petty
Parliamentary Division: Barnard Castle
Polling District: O - Ingleton
Parish: Headlam
Date: October-1918
Reference: October-1918
Gender: Male
Contributed by Durham County Record Office
