Military History

Thomas is listed as being killed in action on 10 Oct 1917 and the 7th Battalion War Diary entry for the period 1st to 16th October 1917 is transcribed below and appears to show that Thomas was killed by shell fire during the Battalion's relief in the front lines of the 1st Bedfordshire Regiment.

Neuve Eglue – 1^st Oct 1917: Bn in Div Reserve. It was expected that Neuve Eglise would be our winter HQ and much work was done on improvement of billets, roofing a concert hall and making horse standings. We were expecting to go back into Messines Sector on the 6^th but on the previous day all orders were cancelled and we moved on the afternoon of the 6^th to huts near Reninghelst.

Reninghelst – 6^th Oct 1917: The weather was very bad and we were lucky in having excellent accommodation.

Dickebusch – 9^th Oct 1917: 3 days later we moved to camp near Dickebusch and the following day proceeded to take over the front lines from the 1^st Bedfords, 5^th Division.

Trenches – 10^th Oct 1917: The relief was carried out under considerable difficulties owing to heavy shell fire and the ignorance of the guides. One of our Company Commanders with his HQ and a whole Platoon had to spend a most uncomfortable night in Dumbarton Lakes.

Dispositions. Bn held Front Line from Menin Road 28.J.21.d to the Scherria Beek. 4^th Middlesex on our right, 7^th R.B on our left. Two Companies in the front line and two in support. On the 14^th the 39^th Division came in on our right.

The tour of 6 days was most unpleasant, communications were very difficult especially to the rear and the Menin Road which was the principal route was always liable to be shelled. We were unlucky in having R.S.M Oxley severely wounded and 3 C.Q.M.S – Ellis, Standard and Johnson killed on the dump. All these men were amongst the oldest members of the Battalion and their loss was  very hard felt.

A large number of men were sick in the line owing to the bad conditions in the trenches and the impossibility in getting up thigh boots or hot food. We had nearly 70 cases of men sent to F.A with Trench foot.

There were opportunities for sniping than we had ever had before as the Germans walked about openly at dawn and dusk. Our men thoroughly enjoyed themselves and accounted for a large number.

Our casualties for the tour were 27 OR killed, 59 wounded and 4 missing.

Ridge Wood – 16^th Oct 1917: The Battalion was relieved by 5^th Oxf & Bucks and moved to camp at Ridge Wood. Two days were spent in reorganising and cleaning. END