Person

Thomas Perryman was born in Kelloe to Henry Perryman and Elizabeth Perryman nee Richardson. His exact year of birth is not clear but was around 1880. He was baptised on 12 May 1881. His father worked as a coal miner. The family lived in Kelloe for the first part of Thomas’ life before moving to South Moor, Stanley by the time of the 1901 census.

Thomas’ parents had 17 children, eight of whom were still alive in 1911. It is not possible to name all of the children from census records but it is known that Thomas’ siblings included Ralph, John William, Charles, Isabella, Hannah, Rachael, Joseph, Henry and Henry. His brother Ralph died aged less than one year old whilst his brother Henry also had a short life. He died aged four years early in 1894. However, his mother appears to have been pregnant with another child born later in the same year who was also given the name Henry.

In 1903 Thomas married Mary Ann Sample and by 1911 the couple had had three children, one of whom had died. The two surviving children were both girls; Annie born in 1903 and Constance Ethel Gay born in 1909. At the time of the 1911 census, Thomas was working as a hewer in a coal mine.

Thomas enlisted at Barnard Castle and served as a private with the 15th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. His medal roll card states that he entered the theatre of war on 9 October 1915. Whilst fighting in France on 3 May 1917 he was reported missing presumed dead.
Thomas Perryman is remembered on the Arras Memorial, as well as several memorials locally in Annfield Plain.

Civil Parish: Stanley

Death date: 3-May-1917

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: 47 South View, Kelloe (1881 and 1891 census)
65 Poplar Street, Stanley (1901 census)
27 Mitchell Street South Moor (1911 census)
4 Jackson Square, West Kyo, Annfield Plain (Address for wife from Commonwealth War Graves Commission website)

Employment: Coal Miner – Hewer (1911 census)

Family: Parents: Henry Perryman (1851-1921), Elizabeth Perryman nee Richardson
Siblings: Ralph Perryman (1874-1874), John William Perryman (b 1877), Charles Perryman (b 1879), Isabella Perryman (b 1885), Hannah Perryman (b 1888), Rachael Perryman (b 1891), Joseph Perryman (b 1894), Henry Perryman (1890–1894), Henry Perryman (b 1894)
Spouse: Mary Ann Perryman nee Sample
Children: Annie Perryman (b 1903), Constance Ethel Gay Perryman (b 1909)

Military service:

15th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, 28647 Private

Medal(s): 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Memorial(s): Arras Memorial
Book of Remembrance 1914-18 Durham Light Infantry Durham Cathedral
Cenotaph 1914-18 1939-45 Park, Annfield Plain
Roll of Honour 1914-18 St Aidan, Annfield Plain

Gender: Male

Contributed by Brenda Mc, Gateshead