Corporal Thomas Fell

Corporal Thomas Hope Fell, 1st/7th ( Territorial ) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. He was killed in action in Belgium on 26th April 1915, aged 27 during the Battle of St. Julien ( part of the bigger Second Battle of Ypres ). He was the son of Charles and Margaret Fell of Tweedmouth and is buried in Seaforth Cemetery, Cheddar Villa, nr.,Ypres, Flanders, Belgium. He had been educated at Tweedmouth National school and was a keen sportsman being especially interested in rowing and running where he was captain of Berwick Harriers. The Battalion had only landed in France on 21st April before being rushed north up to the Ypres Salient to take part in an abortive attack in support of the Canadians which cost the Territorials over 400 Officers and men. This was about 40 % of the Battalion strength. The photograph shows the impressive Memorial raised to commemorated the 50th ( Northumbrian ) Division of which the Battalion was part until February 1918. It was erected near to the village of Wieltje in the Ypres Salient where nearby the Division had fought the above action.