Thomas Telford Edmundson (1894-1915)
From Sunderland, served with the 7th Battalion DLI, killed in action 26 April 1915.
Thomas Telford Edmundson was born in Hendon, Sunderland in 1894, the son of George Edmundson, who worked as a ship-yard joiner, and his wife, Mary. In 1911, Thomas was working as a clerk for an electrical and engineering works in Sunderland.
Sadly, Thomas’ service records have not survived but he probably joined the 7th Battalion DLI – his local Territorial Force unit – in Sunderland in 1912 or 1913, when he was eighteen years old.
When the First World War began in August 1914, the 1st/7th Battalion DLI was mobilised and prepared for active service overseas. On 19 April 1915, the battalion, including Private Edmundson, left Newcastle by rail for France and, within days, these raw Durham soldiers were fighting for their lives in the Second Battle of Ypres.
According to the battalion’s War Diary held at The National Archives (WO 95/2840/3), on 25 April 1915 the battalion bivouacked beside the Ypres-Zonnebeke road at Verlorenhoek. At 2pm the next day, the battalion was ordered to advance towards Gravenstafel and, under heavy shell fire, the Durham soldiers moved forwards and dug in north of the village of Zonnebeke. The German advance, however, continued and after dark the battalion was ordered to fall back.
The 1st/7th Battalion DLI lost eight soldiers killed in action on 26 April 1915 near Zonnebeke, including Thomas Edmundson. These men were, probably, all buried by their comrades where they fell. However, after the Second Battle of Ypres, Zonnebeke lay behind the German front line and the graves of these eight men were lost. As none had a known grave, all were named on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing at Ypres.
In November 2014, road widening north of Zonnebeke village uncovered human remains. Local police called in archaeologists, who excavated the site and found among the remains some British Army buttons, fragments of khaki cloth, two British rifle bullets, and a curved brass “DURHAM” shoulder title (see photograph). This unknown British casualty of the First World War had served in the Durham Light Infantry, but who was he?
In June 2015, the remains were handed over to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in Belgium and work began to identify this unknown DLI soldier, co-ordinated by the Ministry of Defence’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre in Gloucester. Durham County Record Office was asked to help.
After extensive research, the Record Office sent a report to the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre showing that the remains had to belong to one of the eight missing soldiers from the 1st/7th Battalion DLI. A DNA sample was taken from the remains and compared to a family member from each of these eight soldiers. The results proved that the remains were those of Thomas Edmundson.
On 14 March 2018, 2648 Private Thomas Edmundson 1st/7th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry was buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Perth Cemetery (China Wall) near Ypres. The service, organised by the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre and led by The Reverend John Swanston CF of the 1st Battalion The Rifles, was attended by the young soldier’s cousins from Britain and Canada, as well as British Defence Staff, regimental representatives from The Rifles and local dignitaries.
Thomas Edmundson’s headstone is engraved with a personal inscription chosen by his family: “I once was lost but now am found… and grace will lead me home”.
For further information:
Commonwealth War Grave Commission: https://www.cwgc.org/learn/news-and-events/news/2018/03/14/16/02/family-attend-burial-service-for-first-world-war-soldier-more-than-100-years-after-his-death
Ministry of Defence: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/world-war-one-durham-light-infantry-soldier-finally-given-military-burial-a-century-after-his-death
North East War Memorials Project: http://www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=8735
Civil Parish: Sunderland
Birth date: 1894
Death date: 26-Apr-1915
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: 15 Abingdon Street, Chester Road, Sunderland.
Employment: 1911 Census: Clerk, Electrical & Engineering works.
Family: Parents: George William Hutton and Mary Edmundson.
Sister: Elizabeth Edmundson.
Military service:
2648 Private Thomas Telford Edmundson, 'B' Company, 1st/7th Battalion DLI.
Medal(s): 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Memorial(s): CWGC Perth Cemetery (China Wall) near Ypres.
Ewesley Road Methodist Church, Sunderland.
Gender: Male
Contributed by Durham County Record Office
