Pte 57824 Thomas Bowerbank Pyburn

• Age: 26
• From: Belmont Durham
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 23rd July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Thomas was born on 27th August 1890 in Belmont, Co. Durham, and baptised on 28th September.  His parents Philip Pyburn and his wife Annie (nee Bowerbank) had married on the 22nd July 1890 in Belmont.  Both his parents were born in County Durham.  Thomas was the eldest of six children; his siblings were Philip (who died at age 4), William, Catherine (who died at age 1), Sarah, and Elizabeth. He was baptised on 28th September 1890 at Belmont, County Durham. 

The 1891 Census shows that his parents are living with Annie’s widowed mother, Elizabeth A. aged 58 and her sons Thomas a 27 year old pattern maker, Robert a 20 year old iron moulder and John Joseph an 18 year old apprentice fitter, in Carrville South side. His father Philip is a 24 year old fitter and turner, born in Rainton, whilst his mother Annie is also 24 years of age, born in Sherburn. Thomas is 7 months old.  

The 1901 Census finds Thomas living with his parents and younger brother William at 37 High Street, Carrville.

His father is a 34 year old steam engine fitter and turner, his mother is also 34 years of age. Thomas is 10 and his brother William is 6.  

Father Thomas, a well-respected mechanic at a colliery, died in December 1910, aged 45, from influenza followed by pneumonia.

In 1911, his widowed mother, Annie, is again living in the house along with her mother, Elizabeth Bowerbank now aged 74, and her brother John J. a 38 year old engine fitter, at 112 High Street, Carrville, near Durham.  Thomas is 20 years old, single, and a teacher in training at Dundee College. His siblings William a 16 year old apprentice engine fitter, Sarah aged 9 and Elizabeth aged 5 are also in the household.

A few months after the census was taken, his only brother William died, at age 16 leaving Thomas as the only surviving son.

Thomas was educated at Model School, Durham, Johnston Technical College as a scolarship pupil and Dundee Training College between 1910-1912 where he gained a First Class Certificate enabling him to enter Hettons Lyons Council School as a student/trainee teacher. 

It is not known when Thomas enlisted at Durham; he served as 429 in the Army Cyclist Corps before being transferred to the 19^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private 57824.

By May 1917 the battalion was in the Ypres salient, in preparation for the Third Battle of Ypres, also known as Passchendaele. According to the battalion War Diary, on the evening of 23rd July, the battalion proceeded to the line, relieving the 6th Bn Royal West Kents.  At some point Thomas was killed, aged 26, likely from routine shelling or gunfire. 

19th Battn. War Diary in the area of MUNCQ NIEURLET. 

CANAL RESERVE CAMP.  

23rd July 1917 - During the longer part of the day the Battalion rested, a few parades being held during the morning under Company arrangements. In the evening the battalion proceeded to the line, relieving the 6th Battalion of the Royal West Kents. 

TRENCHES. 

24th July 1917 - Relief was complete by 3.15 a.m. During the day the artillery on both sides were very active, special attention being paid by the enemy to the front and support lines. A few shells also dropped in RITZ STREET and in the vicinity of Battalion headquarters (DORMY HOUSE). 

His body was never recovered and he is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, in Ypres. 

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

His officer wrote: "He was killed by a direct hot from a shell, and as he died a soldier's death was given a soldier's grave, being buried by his comrades. He was one of the old boys of the Regiment, having been with us for some time."

The site of his burial was obviously lost during the ongoing battles.    

His effects went to his mother Annie, who was then living at 111 High Street, Carrville.  She died in 1935.

Durham County Advertiser - Friday 17 August 1917 

PRIVATE T. B. PYBURN.  

Official news has been received by Mrs Pyburn, of High Street, Carrville, that her son, Pte. Thomas Pyburn, the King's Own(sic) Liverpool Regiment, was killed in action on July 26, He was 26 years of age, and much sympathy is felt for the relatives in their sad bereavement. He began his career at the Model School, Durham, where he won a scholarship which entitled him enter the Johnston Technical School. In 1910 he proceeded to Dundee Training College, and during the two years there his father and brother died. He struggled bravely in his studies, and came out with a first-class certificate. being appointed to the Hetton Lyons Council School. From there he joined the forces, and had been in France nine months. His commander, writing to Mrs Pyburn, states “ He was killed by a direct hit from a shell, and as he died a soldier's death was given a soldier's grave, being buried by his comrades. He was one of the old boys of the King's Liverpool regiment, having been with them for some time, and was respected by all the men his platoon, by whom his loss is greatly felt, but not more so than myself his platoon commander.” 

Thomas was listed as Killed in the Weekly Casualty List, 28th August 1917. 

King’s Liverpool Regiment) - Pyburn, 57824, T. B. (Durham); 

His death was reported in the Newcastle Journal of 08th November 1917:

Officials under the Education Committee, numbering 691, are on war service, including 461 certificated assistants. In addition, there are 155 who have either made the great sacrifice, been discharged, or transferred to Army Reserve W. Since the last report, five more have laid down their lives in the service of the country. vis. : — Second-Lieut. S Brown, East Lanca. Regt. (Bishop Auckland Grammar School), Bombardier J. P. Wake, R.G.A. (Bowburn), Pte.George Crawford, King's Liverpool Regiment (West Herrington), Pte.T. B. Pyburn, King's Liverpool Regiment (Hetton Lyons), and Corpl.  M. W. Rudd, D.L.I. (Education Department).
Sergeant-Major Fred Dann, Intelligence Depart-ment, assistant master at the Johnston Technical School, had been appointed a Member of the Royal Victorian Order by his Majesty; and Captain T. Harker, D.L.I. (Anfield Plain Upper Standard School) had been awarded the Military Cross for distinguished service on the field.
Education estimates were passed as follow — Elementary, £174,955, and higher, £21.960.

Thomas received his two medals. 

His effects went to his mother Annie, who was then living at 111 High Street, Carrville.  She died in 1935.

Thomas is commemorated on the following memorials: 

Dundee Training College War Memorial 

St. Mary Magdalene Churchyard, WW1 Memorial, Belmont 

The family headstone in St. Mary’ Churchyard. 

Also 

Teachers Who Fell in 1914-18 – National Union of Teachers 

On the 1921 Census mother Annie is aged 55, living with daughters Sarah 19, a shorthand typist for the local war pensions committee, and Elizabeth Ann 15. She died aged 68 in 1935. 

We currently have no further information on Thomas Bowrbank Pyburn, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.