Thomas Sutclffe was born in 1898 at Annfield Plain, County Durham. He was one of twelve children born to William (a coal miner) and Elizabeth Sutclffe. Unfortunately, two of his siblings died.

The 1891 census roll show the family are living at Second Cross Row, Haswell, County Durham. There are nine persons in the house, including Thomas’s grandfather also called William.

In 1911 the family are living at 5, Lime Street, South Moor, County Durham. Thomas’s father is now a Deputy in the coal mine.

On the 22nd of March 1915, Thomas’s older brother William joined the Scots Guards. He survived the first world war, and was awarded with a Military Medal.

Thomas also joined the British army, enlisting initially in the Durham Light Infantry where he became private 4214 Thomas Sutcliffe, this number indicated he was a member of the territorial forces.

At some time in mid-to-late 1916, Thomas, along with other members of the DLI, were transferred to “D” company 49th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps, he now held the rank of corporal.

On the 11th of April 1918, “D” Company was ordered to take-up the defence of Kemmel Hill in Belgium, with other British and French forces.

From the 11th to the 18th of April 1918, Kemmel Hill was subjected to continued shelling from the Germans, resulting in several deaths in Thomas’s company. In the evening of the 18th of April, the French Army took over command of the defences at Kemmel. “D” Company remained in their position at the request of the French Army, and came under their command.

In the early hours of the 25th of April 1918, the date of Thomas’s death, an inferno erupted out of the morning silence. This infernal artillery bombardment quickly decimated all life on and around Kemmel Hill. It was followed by another bombardment, this time from the air. Around 9.30 am that day, only two French infantry men were found alive by German troops who took possession of the top of Mount Kemmel.

Up to the 30th of April 1918, only 7 members of “D” Company, re-joined the battalion. Thomas Sutcliffe was one of many British and French soldiers who lost their lives that day on Kemmel Hill, he was just 20 years of age.

Thomas has no known grave and is commemorated on panels 154 to 159 at Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium, and the gates of First World War Memorial Park, South Moor, County Durham.

On Kemmel Hill, there is a French Ossuaire which contains the remains of 5294 soldiers. All but 57 of them are unknown. One of these unknow soldiers could be Thomas Suttcliffe.