Military History

Thomas died after being captured and held of a prisoner of war. An obituary in the Stratford Herald, some months after his death, states that we was reported missing on 23rd March 1918. The obituary and the 23rd Battalion war diary entries for the period 21st to 23rd March are transcribed below.

Stratford Herald - Friday 1st November 1918
DIED OF WOUNDS CORPORAL T. PITTAWAY

Notification has now been received by Mrs. Pittaway that her only son, Corporal Thomas Pittaway, 23rd Royal Fusiliers previously reported wounded and missing on 23rd March 1918 is now reported to have died as a prisoner of war at Thiennes on 24th March. Corporal Pittaway joined the forces in June 1915, was twice wounded and had seen much hard fighting. 

His commanding officer spoke of him in a letter to his mother as a most fearless and brave soldier. In civil life he was a storekeeper and clerk at the Shirley Schools near Croydon where he was held in high esteem. Many expressions of sympathy have been extended to his widowed mother and sister from the whole staff and members of the board.

Hutments at Equancourt – 21.3.1918: On March 21^st the Battalion was in hutments in Equancourt and was ordered to “stand to” on accrual of reports being made of an enemy advance towards Fins

Hutments at Equancourt – 22.3.1918: On March 22^nd the Battalion was still in the same position and still “standing to”. In the afternoon of that day enemy bullets fell in the camp at Equancourt and patrols were at once pushed out towards Fins to ascertain the situation. Patrols reported Fins in occupation by the enemy and fighting in progress between the enemy and 9^th Division on the outskirts of the wood in V.10.d & V.11.c. Equancourt – Fins road was patrolled by the Battalion during the night 22/23 March and sentries posted on road junction in V.10.b.

Equancourt – 23.3.1918: On the morning of 23^rd March the Battalion in conjunction with 1^st K.R.R.C and one Coy of the 1^st Royal Berks was ordered to form a defensive flank from V.6 central to V.3.c. - 23^rd Royal Fusiliers on the left, 1 Coy of Royal Berks in centre, 1^st K.R.R.C on the right. This was done.

At about 11am, in consequence of the left being “up in the air” the left flank was swung back, the defensive flank thus formed running from about V.35.c.0.3 to V.4.g.2.0 thence to V.3.c. Shortly after this movement had been carried out it was found that the 1^st K.R.R.C had vacated the position held by them on the right flank & one Coy of 23^rd R. Fus was therefore moved round to reoccupy the vacated position and to secure the flanks.

The 21^st London Regt then moved into position on the left, obtaining touch with the 23^rd R Fus and 1^st Royal Berks. At about 3pm the London Regiment on the right withdrew and the enemy by a flanking  movement was working round the right flank. Orders were then issued for the 23^rd R. Fus and 1 Coy 1^st Royal Berks to withdraw, fighting a rearguard action. The withdrawal was effected through Bourgeonve Wood and Hayettes Wood in Ytres.

North of Hayettes Wood the Battalion was reinforced and acting on Brigade orders marched via Ytres, Bus & Rocquigney to Le Transloy. During the rear guard fighting about 60 casualties occurred.

The night of 23/24 March was spent in bivouac at Le. Transloy