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Matthew Christelow (1889-1917)


From Burnhope, served with the DLI and East Yorkshire Regiment, killed in action.


Matthew Christelow was born in Pelton in 1898, the son of William and Alice Christelow, of 30 West Terrace, Burnhope, County Durham. He had five sisters and one brother.

When Matthew enlisted in December 1914, he was working as a hewer at Burnhope Colliery. He joined the 17th Battalion Durham Light Infantry and, after training in Newcastle and Barnard Castle, joined the 13th Battalion DLI in France in September 1915.

In March 1916, Private Christelow was wounded and sent to a military hospital in Leicester. In December 1916, after recovering his health, Private Christelow was sent back to France, where he was transferred to the 13th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment.

Matthew Christelow was killed in action on 4 November 1917 and was buried in Roclincourt Military Cemetery, north of Arras, France. After his death, his mother was sent her son’s belongings, including letters, photographs, a purse, two razors and a steel mirror.

For more information:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/525737/christelow,-matthew/

North East War Memorials Project
http://www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=6480

Civil Parish: Lanchester

Birth date: 1898

Death date: 4-Nov-1917

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: 30 West Terrace, Burnhope, County Durham

Religion: Wesleyan

Employment: Hewer, Burnhope Colliery, County Durham.
Note: A Hewer worked at the coal face, loosening the coal with a pick.

Family: Parents: William and Alice Christelow.
Siblings: Five sisters (Margaret, Mary, Emma, Florence and Lily) and one brother (Thomas).

Military service:

Enlisted 12 December 1914, 17th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, as 22492 Private.
Served with 13th Battalion DLI on the Western Front, September 1915 - March 1916. Wounded.
Transferred on 13 December 1916 to 13th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, as 35178 Private.
Killed in action 4 November 1917.

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

Memorial(s): Roclincourt Military Cemetery, Arras, France.
Burnhope Memorial Garden.
Church of St. John the Evangelist, Burnhope.

Gender: Male

Contributed by Burnhope War Memorial Research Group. | With additional research by Durham County Record Office.

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