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Pte. William John "Smash" Tearse
British Army 10th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
from:59 Gladstone Street, Cowpen Quay, Blyth, Northumberland
My grandfather, William Tearse never talked of the war much and that was only after a drink as I recollect. Its taken this long to think about trying to trace his footsteps. The 10th Northumberland Fusiliers was formed in Newcastle in Sep 1914, part of 68th Brigade, 23rd Division. They were sent to Bullswater then on Dec 14th moved to Aldershot. In Feb 1915 they were send to Ashford, Kent and in May 1915 sent to Bramshott. In August 1915 the battalion landed in France. They were sent to Italy, and were at Porcia for the Italian Armistice on Nov 4th 1918. He was demobbed in 1919.
He told us he only signed up to get some shoes, had no respect for authority always feeling the men were really led by donkeys, spent time in the glass house for fighting, he was nicknamed "Smash" for this. He carried two rifles as his friend was that small. The worst order he ever got was when he was told after the bombardment that the men must walk across as there would be nothing left of the German trenches, he said his friends were mowed down. An officer in the trenches before he blew his whistle had said "come on over the top you can't all live" He went out and carried a soldier back to his own trench who had papers on him, he was asked to take a message along the trench and couldn't get passed for rats the size of cats, as he hadn't taken his rifle decided rather than pass the rats he climbed on top of the trench risking getting shot.
He spent time as a stretcher bearer, he and his mate were carrying a 6ft plus German on a stretcher through bomb craters, water everywhere, the bombs were going off as they were trying to avoid the explosions, he said the German fell in the slurry and sank immediately. After France they were sent to Italy. His daughter many years later asked him if he fancied a walk and her head was bitten off, "I did plenty walking in France and Italy", she never asked again
