By John D Ellis
Sapper Antonio Da Costa was born in Trinidad c.1892. He was the son of Antonio and Amelia Da Costa of Belmont, Port of Spain, Trinidad. He was almost certainly of mixed heritage. An architect and builder by occupation he enlisted in the Royal Engineers in Glasgow, Scotland and was given the service number T9776. He was not amongst any of the contingents officially sent from Trinidad to Britain, and so it is likely that he made his own way, travelling at his own expense. It would make sense, even to military “logic”, to place a builder in the Royal Engineers, rather than the infantry, cavalry or artillery.
It is not known precisely when he arrived in Scotland or enlisted, but sometime after arrival he married Janet (Jenny) Dodson Currie (nee’ Gartherry, born in 1894).
In early October 1915 he wrote his Will, and named Janet Da Costa of 48 Buccleuch Street, Glasgow, as his next of kin. It was, and indeed still is, normal practice for service personnel to write their Wills prior to deploying, and within a few days Antonio Da Costa was serving in France with the 1st Highland Company, Royal Engineers.
A son, also named Antonio Da Costa, was born in April 1916, to Antonio (senior) and Janet. The former was identified as a Building Contractor, serving as a Sapper with 1st Highland Company, RE, whilst the latter was still resident in Buccleuch Street where their son had been born. Janet registered the birth, not Antonio, which suggests he did not get leave.
The 1st Highland Company provided engineering support to the 51st (Highland) Division. An inexperienced unit in 1915, in 1916 the division had showed its worth during the Battle of the Somme when they successfully assaulted and captured “High Wood (earning themselves the nickname “The Ladies from Hell”). In November 1916, the division were tasked with capturing the fortress village of Beaumont-Hamel, and on the 29th of November 1916, near the village of Lesars, Sapper Antonio De Costa was killed in action, alongside a comrade, Sapper J Duff. Sappers Da Costa and J Duff were buried side by side in Pozieres British Cemetery. The epitaph on Antonio’s gravestone, chosen by Jenny Da Costa, reads “Only good-night beloved, not farewell”.
It is not known if Antonio Da Costa ever met his son before he died, however, his Will ensured that Jenny and Antonio did receive a pension upon his death. Following the war, Antonio Da Costa was posthumously awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-1920 and the Victory Medal. His pension was paid to Jenny and Antonio (junior), until the latter reached eighteen years of age, then it appears to have been reduced. Jenny Da Costa never re-married. She died in Hillhead, Glasgow in 1952. Antonio Da Costa (junior), died in Strathendrick, Balfron in 1993.
Sources: TNA WO 372/5. Trinidad 1919 Year Book. (West India Committee, 1919). Trinidad-1919-Year-Book-extract.pdf (westindiacommittee.org) livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk www.cwgc.org WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers. Western Front Association; London, England. Reference: 057/0238/DAB-DAL. ancestry.co.uk Soldier’s and airmen’s wills. Regiment: Highland Light Infantry. SC70/8/500/13. National Records of Scotland. www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ Statutory Registers – Births. 644/9/351. National Records of Scotland. www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ www.google.co.uk/maps