Peterborough & The Great War

Biography

Lance Corporal “Trizzy” Trezise was serving with the 16^th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers Machine Gun Section when he passed through Peterborough East Station and signed the visitors’ book on  on 31 August 1916.  He wrote “This is practical Christianity, such as is appreciated by a soldier or sailor”.

“Trizzy” is Theodore Fenton Trezise who was born in Stoke-on-Trent on 27 November 1891 to parents Henry Charles and Caroline (nee Fenton).  The family moved to Newcastle-upon-Tyne and in 1901 were living at 122 Wingrove Avenue.  His father, Henry Charles (45) was a hosiery commercial traveller, mother Caroline (35), Theodore Fenton (9) and sisters Dorothy Helena (6) and Elsie Mary (4).  The family was well travelled as his father was born in Portsmouth, and his sisters in Manchester and Leeds.  In 1911, Theodore was 19 years old and a scientific instrument maker, living with his family at 142 Dilston Road, Elswick, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.  His father was a drawing office clerk in Elswick ship yard.

Theodore’s service records have not survived, but his medal records reveal he served in France and was awarded the British War and Allied Victory medals, and the 1915 Star.

Theordore married May Hutson in 1920, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.  By 1939, they had moved to Cheshire and were living at “Milbourne”, Weston Road, Runcorn where Theodore was working as a physical chemical apparatus maker in charge of the instrument section in a research laboratory.  No children have been traced.

May died on 12 October 1952, and was living at 42 Oxford Road, Runcorn and Theodore died on 18 January 1978, aged 87 and was living at the same address.

Do you recognise the name Trezise? Is it your family name?  Do let us know, if you can tell us more.

With thanks to Sybil Clay of the Northumberland and Durham Family History Society for her help in tracing Theodore.