Person

Thomas Horsfield Cummings was born on 1 November 1894 in Edmondsley. He was baptised on 21 November 1894 in Sacriston. His father was George Robert Cummings (1873-1959), a coal miner originally from St Anthony, Northumberland. His mother was Isabella Cummings nee Horsfield (1873-1938), an engine fitter’s daughter from New Herrington. Thomas’s parents married in 1893 in Chester le Street. Thomas was the eldest of eight children, with five sisters and two brothers. In 1901 the Cummings family lived in Gosforth, Northumberland. By 1911 they had moved to Clover Houses, Birtley. Thomas was working as a hauler engineman in a coal mine in 1911.

Thomas attested for war service on 4 September 1914. He initially served as private G/2127 in the 8th Royal West Surrey Regiment. He transferred to the Rifle Brigade and was given the service number TR/13/80075. He was commissioned as an officer on 18 May 1918 and served in 5th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry (DLI) as a second lieutenant. He died of pneumonia in the UK on 15 July 1918.

Thomas’s parents lived at 5 Batey Street, Catchgate at the time of his death. He was buried in Harelaw Cemetery in grave 8 C 556. His parents erected a gravestone that read “In loving memory of Thomas Horsfield the dearly beloved son of George Robert and Isabella Cummings of Catchgate, second lieutenant in fifth DLI who passed away at Shorncliffe Military Hospital on July 15th 1918 aged 23 years and 8 months. Fight the good fight”.

Thomas Horsfield Cummings was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal for his service in World War One.

Civil Parish: Kyo

Birth date: 01-Nov-1894

Death date: 15-Jul-1918

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: Gosforth, Northumberland (1901 census)
Clover House, Birtley (1911 census)
5 Batey Street, Catchgate (1918 CWGC record)

Employment: Hauler engineman in a coal mine (1911 census)

Family: Parents: George Robert Cummings (1873-1959), Isabella Cummings nee Horsfield (1873-1938)
Siblings: Richard Cummings (b 1897), Maud Cummings (b 1899) Lillian Cummings (b 1899), George Robert Cummings (b 1901), Deborah Isabella Cummings (b 1903), Margaret Jane Cummings (b 1905), Sarah Annie Cummings (b 1908)

Military service:

G/2127
Private
Royal West Surrey Regiment
TR/13/80075
Private
Rifle Brigade
Commissioned 18 May 1918
2nd Lieutenant
Durham Light Infantry
5 Battalion

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

Memorial(s): Harelaw Cemetery, Annfield Plain, Stanley (grave 8 C 556)
Book of Remembrance, Durham Light Infantry, 1914-18, Durham Cathedral
Book of Remembrance, 5 Durham Light Infantry, St Thomas’ Church, Stockton-on-Tees
Cenotaph 1914-18, Park, Annfield Plain

Gender: Male

Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham