Stories of Percy Main Railwaymen

In the run-up to Rememberance Sunday, we thought it important to remember those men who went to war and sadly did not return.

Thanks to the research of Josh Monks we can bring you the stories of Percy Main railwaymen who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

L.D.T. Bell

Leonard Dobson Thompson Bell was born in 1894 to Thomas and Mary Ann Bell who lived at Percy Main.

In the 1901 Census, the family lived at 11, Middle Row, Percy Main. The family comprised of Parents Thomas and Mary Ann, brothers Michael, James, Thomas and Leonard and sister Ellen. In the 1911 Census, the family lived at the same address, but now comprised of Thomas and Mary Ann, brothers Michael, Thomas and Leonard, and Leonard’s nephews Thomas and Francis.

On the 12th July 1909, Leonard joined the North Eastern Railway and in the 1911 Census he was recorded as a Pointsman. At the time he died, Bell was working as a Gangman based at Percy Main station. In 1916, Bell joined the National Union of Railwaymen, joining there branch at Tynemouth.

In late 1916, Bell joined the Royal Engineers as a Sapper, the engineering equivalent of Private, taking the service number 290382. At some point, Bell’s service number changed to WR/506837.

At the time of Bell’s death, he was working as part of the 12th Port Construction Company working in France near Rouen. Sadly, Bell died on the 8th November 1918, just three days before the Armistice was signed. Bell died from Pneumonia and is buried in the St. Sever Cemetery Extension, he lies in plot S III, row DD, grave 8.

Bell was posthumously awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

W.H. Johnson

William Henry Johnson was born in 1880. Not much is known about Johnson’s early life. In 1903 Johnson joined the North Eastern Railway and at the time of his enlistment was working as an Engineering Labourer at Percy Main.

In the fourth quarter of 1905, William Henry married Barbara Sarah Clark at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The family had at least two children, James McCleewarth born in 1909 and Ann born in 1911. In the 1911 Census, the family lived at 12, Borough Street, Heaton.

In November 1914, Johnson joined the 19th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. The 19th Battalion was a Pals Battalion formed by the Lord Mayor of Newcastle. Johnson became a Private and took the service number 19/534.

In February 1915, the battalion became a pioneer battalion and was known as the 1st Tyneside Pioneers. In January 1916, the battalion moved to France and conducted minor engineering tasks on the Western Front. At some point before July 1916, Johnson was promoted to the Rank of Serjeant, having previously been a Lance Corporal and a Corporal.

On the 8th July 1916, during the Battle of the Somme, Johnson was killed in action. Johnson as buried in Serre Road Cemetery No. 2 and lies in Plot XV, Row K, Grave 3.

Although unrecorded, it is believed that Johnson was awarded the British War and Victory Medals.

More to come over the coming days.