Military History

According to Red Cross Records [click here] and my rough Google translation Thomas was taken Prisoner 19 Jul 1917 at Monchy and initially held at Limburg Prisoner of War Camp. He died on Christmas Day 1917, as a result of a weak heart, dysentry and a gun shot wound to the chest, at the Mulheim-Ruhr Prisoner of War Camp.

As mentioned above, according to the Red Cross Thomas was wounded and taken prisoner on 19 Jul 1917 at Monchy, the 5th Battalion war diary entry for the 18th & 19th July are transcribed below.

Trenches near Monchy - 18^th July 1917: The Battalion moved up to relieve 9^th Essex Regt in left subsector of right sector of Brigade front dividing line between the battalions being line drawn due N from junction of Hook & Mound Sap.

Trenches near Monchy - 19^th July 1917: D Coy of the Bn carried out a small local attack with object of capturing continuation of Long trench opposite Hook Trench and joining it up with Mound Sap on right and Hook Sap on left. Artillery barrage was to come down in rear of objective at Zero + 10 seconds.

The attack was carried out in two waves, the first wave consisting of 2 platoons in line on frontage of 240 yards, lightly equipped & the second wave of one platoon carrying tools and prepared to consolidate. The plan of attack was framed on the assumption that the trench would be lightly held.

At Zero the first wave closely followed by the second wave rushed across to the enemy trench (120x [yards]) but were met by a shower of canister bombs and by very stubborn resistance from a large number of enemy. Some of the attacking troops remained in the enemy trench for 15 minutes but as they were considerably outnumbered and their bombs were exhausted they had to withdraw and by 3.30pm were all back in our own front line, except for casualties.

Casualties Officers: 2/Lt A. Maybury & 2/Lt B. Lyons missing believed killed.

Casualties OR’s: 3 killed, 24 wounded, 14 missing (including Thomas?).

In view of intelligence as to strength of enemy obtained during this operation the Division Commander now decided to adopt a defensive policy and orders were given & the Battalion to concentrate on wiring Hook and Hill trenches.