Military History

Thomas is listed as being killed in action on 24th August 1914. The 2nd Battalion war diary entries for the period 23rd to 25th August 1914 are transcribed below.

Frameries - 23 Aug 1914: Battalion moved at 8am to Ciply and joined the remains of the [7^th] Brigade. About 12 [.00] hours the Battalion received orders to move to a position about 1 mile N of Frameries and entrench itself there. The Battalion was in position on the left of the Brigade.

Assistance was given in digging trenches by Belgian civilians. About 5pm the enemy fired a few shrapnel at the working parties. The trenches were immediately manned and occupied during the night.

Frameries - 24 Aug 1914: At dawn the enemy opened an attack on the trenches at about 5am. The troops occupying Frameries on our left were driven back thus enabling the enemy to eventually enfilade the trenches occupied by C & D Coys who, after suffering great loss, were compelled to retire covered by A & B Coys.

The Battalion eventually succeeded in retiring to St. Vaast and bivouced for the night about 3 miles to the W of the town.

St. Vaast – 25 Aug 1914: The Battalion moved off about 2am with the remainder of the [7^th] Brigade in a SW direction via Le Quesno. The Brigade acting as rear guard intending to halt for the night at Cowdray.

On arrival at Solesmes about 6pm, a vigorous attack was made by the enemy in which the Battalion who joined the rear party suffered severely, holding its position until darkness.

Under cover of darkness the Battalion withdrew in small detachments.