Thomas Gibson Stearman (1890-1915)
Chester Moor man served with 8th DLI shot and died of his wounds buried in Cologne
Thomas Gibson Stearman, the son of Alfred and Jane Stearman, was born in Chester-le-Street on 3 January 1890. He had four brothers and two sisters and lived all his life in Chester-le-Street until he enlisted in the Durham Light Infantry when working as a coal hewer.
He was posted to the 8th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry (DLI) and after training he arrived in France with the battalion on 19 April 1915 and was immediately involved in the Second Battle of Ypres. He was shot in the head and captured by the enemy and sent from Oostnienwkerke to the Monastery Hospital at Dortmund where he died on 25 May. He was buried in the local cemetery but subsequently re-interred in the Cologne Southern Cemetery.
https://grandeguerre.icrc.org/en/File/Details/3420171/3/2/
https://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/34600/cologne-southern-cemetery/
Civil Parish: Chester le Street
Birth date: 3-Jan-1890
Death date: 25-May-1915
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: Word Houses, Chester-le-Street, Durham (1891 census)
Union Lane, Chester-le-Street, Durham (1901 & 1911 censuses)
Employment: Coal Hewer (1911 census)
Family: Father: Alfred Stearman
Mother Jane Stearman (nee Gibson)
Siblings: Elizabeth, William, Matthew, Alfred, Ann & Robert Stearman
Military service:
1/8th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
Service no,: 8/2791
Private
Medal(s): 1914-1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Memorial(s): Cologne Southern Cemetery, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Grave Ref.: XV.B.35
Bridge End, Chester-le-Street 1914-1918 Monument
Market Place, Chester-le-Street All Wars Memorial
St Mary & St Cuthbert Church & Churchyard 1914-1918 Plaques
Chester Moor Literary Institute 1914-1918 Roll of Honour
D.L.I. Book of Remembrance, Durham Cathedral
Gender: Male
Contributed by John Edwards