Military History

Tom is listed as being killed in action on 25 Apr 1915 during the British attack on Vielje, he was originally reported missing and his family wrot to the Red Cross on at least 3 occassions seeking his whereabouts until he was declared as killed in action. The 1st Battalion war diary entries for the period 24 to 26th April 1915 are transcribed below.

24th April 1915 - Locre: Left Locre at 7am & marched to Oudgrdon? and went into billets in huts about 12 noon. Brigade came up & orders were received to advance at 4pm via Vlamertinghe & halted outside Ypres from 8pm to 12mn. Started to rain. Ypres was heavily shelling and on fire.

25th April 1915 - Vielje: Left Ypres at 12mn for Vielje where orders were received for the attack. The Brigade attacked at 4.30am. We attacked the wood on the left of the line with 7th A&S Highlanders in support. The Seaforth Highlanders, R Irish Fus and R Dublin Fus attacked on our right on St. Julien. Owing to the German Trenches being insufficiently shelled and supports unable to come up the line retired at about 7am to trenches near the farm and consolidated our position. Our casualties were very heavy 17 officers and 500 other ranks killed, wounded and missing.

26th April 1915 - Vielje: Heavy gunfire all day. About 2.30pm the Northumberland Division attacked St. Julien without success. We opened supporting fire from our trenches. The Lahore Division attacked on our left but gained very little ground being stopped by gas.