The losses killed attributed to the Tyneside Scottish on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) database are 2,286.
Northumberland Fusiliers | Tyneside Scottish | Casualties | |
20th (Tyneside Scottish) | 1st TS | 575 | |
21st (Tyneside Scottish) | 2nd TS | 429 | |
22nd (Tyneside Scottish) | 3rd TS | 623 | |
23rd (Tyneside Scottish) | 4th TS | 646 | |
29th (Tyneside Scottish) | Reserve | Listing | 6 |
33rd (Tyneside Scottish) | Reserve | Listing | 6 |
Battalion not identified | 1 | ||
Casualties Died | 2,286 |
Those losses included those who joined up on the formation of the Battalions in 1914, and replacements for casualties sustained in the battles and actions from 1916 to 1918. Some died in the UK prior to the TS deploying to France, most are buried or commemorated in the cemeteries and memorials of France and Belgium. Others died in the UK from wounds and are buried in churchyards, their graves maintained by the CWGC. Graves of Tyneside Scottish prisoners of War (POW) have been identified in Germany and Poland.
Prior to the departure of the TS to France, the first casualty attributed to the Tyneside Scottish is Private P Lockey of the 2nd TS who died 30th January 1915, (CWGC Information). Private Lockey’s number is 21 / 69, one of the original Tyneside Scots. He is buried at Earsdon (St Alban’s) Churchyard in Northumberland.
Private Lockey's grave Earsdon St Alban's Churchyard
The first burial in France is Private R Armstrong 1st Tyneside Scottish died 30th January 1916 (CWGC Information). He is buried Y Cemetery Bois Grenier, a small village in the Department of the Nord, about 4 kilometres due South of Armentieres.
By the 30th June on the eve of the first day of the Somme, 155 losses (UK and France) are recorded.
The casualties killed listed for 1st July 1916 are 726. These include the Commanding officers of the 1st and 4th Tyneside Scottish.
Lieutenant Colonel CCA Sillery Lieutenant Colonel (Indian Army, Retired) CO 1st Tyneside Scottish | Lieutenant Colonel W Lyle CO 4th Tyneside Scottish |
Killed in Action 1st July 1916 La Boisselle Buried in Bapaume Post Military Cemetery Albert |
For many lost that day, there is no known grave and they are commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. The number of Tyneside Scots listed on the memorial totals 816, including one of the original Tyneside Scots, Corporal Henry Stokoe(CWGC Information) whose service number is 20/16.
Private F Smeatham 3rd Tyneside Scottish Killed in Action 1st july 1916 La Boisselle Commemorated on Theipval Memorial |
Despite the move to quieter sectors to regenerate, casualties continued throughout 1916.
| RSM JR Wadge MC 4th Tyneside Scottish Died from Wounds in Ipswich 14th August 1916 Buried Gosforth St Nicholas Churchyard Newcastle upon Tyne |
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| 2 / Lt WB Catto 3rd Tyneside Scottish Killed in Action 11th September 1916 Buried Erquinghem –Lys Churchyard, France. |
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Corporal Robert Darling 1st Tyneside Scottish Died of Wounds April 1917 Buried Rouex Military Cemetery near Arras, France. | |
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The casualties sustained by the Tyneside Scottish took their toll. By November 1918 the 1st and 2nd Tyneside Scottish had been disbanded, the 4th TS had returned to the UK as a training unit, only the 3rd Tyneside
Thelast to die prior to the armistice was Private C Levitt 3rd Tyneside Scottish (CWGC Information), a Prisoner of War, who died 8th November 1918. He is buried at Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel. The cemetery was used by the Germans for the burial of prisoners of war who died at the local camp. November 11th did not end the deaths in the Tyneside Scottish. Recorded as died 12th November 1918 is Private Henry Wood 4th Tyneside Scottish (CWGC Information), another POW, who is buried in Pozan Old Garrison Cemetery, in Poland. After the First World War, the graves of Commonwealth servicemen who had died in Poland as prisoners of war were gathered together in this cemetery.
Although the war had ended deaths still continued, 14 casualties are listed for 1919, and 4 for 1920. On the 20th October 1920 the Tyneside Scottish Committee was wound up. Up to that date 2,283 men were dead or missing. A further 3 losses are recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in 1921.
The last named casualty is Private CB Slipper, 1st Tyneside Scottish (CWGC Information) who died 5th May 1921. The son of the local vicar, he is buried in Grosmont (St Matthew’s) Churchyard.
Graves to fallen of the Tyneside Scottish Brigade can be found in United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Germany and Poland. Many have no known graves being commemorated on memorials to the missing. On the 20th April 1922, a memorial to the Tyneside Scottish and Irish Brigades was unveiled by Marshall Foch at La Boisselle, where the Tyneside Scottish had fought on the First Day of the Somme.
The losses of the Tyneside Scottish affected many communities, the memories of those lost being commemorated on local memorials
Hexham War Memorial Northumberland | <><> >||||
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Sergt. J Nevison | <><> > 1st TS | <><> > Died 16 Oct 1917 | <><> > Tyne Cot Memorial | <><> > | <><> >
Pte F. Newman | <><> > 1st TS | <><> > Died 13 Apr 1917 | <><> > Arras Memorial | <><> > | <><> >
Pte. T. Pencott | <><> > 2nd TS | <><> > Died 1st Jul 1916 | <><> > Ovillers Cemetery | <><> > | <><> >
Pte. C.W Potts | <><> > 2nd TS | <><> > Died 9th Apr 1917 | <><> > Arras Memorial | <><> > | <><> >