Arthur Jack Townsend

(Jack)

Born on 23rd August 1898 in Heyeterbury, Wiltshire Arthur was the second son of Eva and Charles Henry Townsend, a Dairyman, of 31 Fishers Lane, Chiswick, London. Presumably Eva, originally from Devises,  had born Arthur whilst staying with family for her confinement as he was baptised at St James's Church, Bromley Wiltshire on 13th November 1898. Available records show Eva and her two boys living apart from Charles, in 1901 she was living at 45 Church Street, Calne, Wiltshire, working as a fishmonger and employed a servant. In 1911 she was living with her mother and Arthur at 3, Albion Place, Devises, Arthur's elder brother, Stanley, was living with his father's mother.

On 19th February 1913, Arthur now 14 years old, attended Eastney Barracks near Portsmouth where he joined the Royal Navy School of Music as a band boy, a part of the Royal Marines Light Infantry. At this time Arthur was 4' 9¾" tall, with fresh complexion and eyes, he had been working as a fitter and turner and passed a swimming test. At school he continued his education to school certificate 3rd class which he achieved by October 1913, he studied clarinet and violin in addition to military training in gymnastics and drill. On 9th March 1915 he was promoted to Musician and trained in musketry and the bayonet.

HMS Warspite (Wiki)

On 5th April 1915 aged 16 Arthur was sent to sea on HMS Warspite, recently finished, powered by oil and armed with eight single 15" guns, at that time untested in action, she underwent sea trials and impressed Winston Churchill, then the First Lord of the Admiralty, with her fire power and accuracy. Arthur's voyage was short but sufficient to entitle him to the award of the 1914-15 Star, on 26th June he returned to Portsmouth, Warspite joined the Grand Fleet and was involved in the Battle of Jutland in 1916.

Returning to the RN School of Music in July 1915 Arthur was elevated to Bugler and then posted to Portsmouth Division. Here he was engaged learning all the skills of both a soldier and a sailor, drill, musketry, all the aspects of the varied artillery pieces kept at Eastney Barracks, rowing, swimming and boat work. For the gunnery courses special devices had been made which replicated the conditions of the rolling deck of a ship. During 1915 Arthur succesfully underwent training in fire control, this was where from deep within the ship the guns were controlled. All the necessary factors such as distance, weather, target speed, were sent by spotters to control who calculated the trajectory to the target and sent a firing solution to the gun team who layed the gun accordingly. The spotters then forwarded the necesary information back to control for them to make any necesary adjustments. Aboard ship the RMLI gunners traditionally mounted the rearmost gun usually designated 'Y' Turret, there was understandably a great deal of healthy rivalry between the RN and RMLI gun crews which led to greater efficiency. When not training Arthur would have spent time on fatigues, guard duties and shore patrols.

In July 1915 Arthur was elevated to Private and would remain at that rank for the rest of his service. In April 1916 he was posted to HMS Dido an old vessel launched in 1896, she was now a Depot ship providing resupply services at sea for the 9th Destroyer Flottilla operating out of Harwich the home of the Harwich Force. This strike force, by the end of 1917,  consisted of nine light cruisers, four flotilla leaders, 45 destroyers and a submarine force. The combination of light and fast ships was effective for scouting patrols, engaging German light ships and anti-minelaying duties in the English Channel.

HMS Dido (Wiki)

In February 1918 he was posted back to Portsmouth Division and on 15th March was posted back to sea on HMS Furious. This ship was built as a Courageous Class Battlecruiser in the war years and commissioned in 1917, it was lightly armoured with a main battery of only two 18" guns. Whilst under construction it was redesigned as the first Aircraft Carrier and a landing deck was built onto the forward decks. Furious was to take part in a plan to launch a sea borne invasion of Germany, named Operation Baltic it involved over 600 ships of all sorts but it was never implemented. Furious experimented with landing and take off of aircraft from its deck, the very first succesful landing was on Furious on 2nd August 1917 by Squadron Commander Edwin Dunning RNAS. Dunning managed a second succesful landing but was killed on his third attempt when his plane crashed over the ships side flipped by wind, he drowned whilst unconscious. By the time Arthur joined the ship it had been modified to add a second landing deck at the rear, but landing on this deck was considered as hazardous as ditching in the sea. In March 1918 with Arthur on board as part of the RMLI detachement, Furious sailed to join the Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow and was flying the flag of Rear Admiral Richard Phillimore in command of all aircraft.

On 27th June 1918, the Royal airforce now formed and manning Furious's Sopwith Camels, a raiding group set of to attack the Tondern Airship base in Germany, (now Tønder, Denmark). With Furious were the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron and eight Destroyers, seven aircraft were ready on the flight deck to bomb the target in two waves. On 29th June the force reached the fly off point but force six winds forced a cancellation. On 17th July the force set off for a second attempt but was again thwarted by weather, the ships waited out of sight of the coast and the following day between 3.13 and 3.21 a.m., with weather threatening to worsen the seven Sopwith Camels took off.

HMS Furious (Wiki)

One aircraft of the second flight developed engine trouble, turned back and ditched in the sea and the pilot rescued. The first flight of three planes arrived at the target 4.35 a.m. and surprised the base, the target consisted of three airship hangers codenamed; Toska, Tobi and Toni. The latter was being dismantled, Toska was a double hanger and housed two airships, L.54 and L.60, the first flight dropped its bombs on this structure. Three bombs hit home and both airships went up in flames but did not explode leaving the hanger damaged. Tobias, which contained a captive balloon, was also hit by a bomb from the first wave causing damage, the second flight managed to destroy the balloon and had narrow misses on a wagon loaded with Hydrogen cylinders.

Both waves were targeted by ground fire which resulted in the loss of a landing wheel, only four defenders were injured. Both flights left the scene to head back to Furious, one flight low on fuel landed in Denmark and were interned, of the other flight two planes ditched and were rescued the other plane was never seen again. Furious waited until 7 a.m. until all planes were either back or lost and returned home. Whilst other raids from Furious were planned the Tondern Raid was the first air attacked launched from a carrier attack and the last of WW1. After the war Furious was laid up and converted to a full flight deck, she was used for extensive trials and training, she served during WW2 and was sold for scrap in 1948.

After the war Arthur still had seven years of service left to complete and besides shore duties he served aboard HMS Dublin from January 1920 to January 1922, also HMS Couragious for four months of 1922. In November 1923, now 5' 7" tall, he bought himself out of the Navy for £24 but enrolled in the Royal Fleet Reserve Class B. To join the Reserve a man had to be recommended by his commanding officer, have a satisfactory service record, (Arthur was rated VG) and to have earned at least one good conduct badge and to have completed at least five man years. Arthur had to complete one weeks training per year during which he was paid as a Private, he also recieved a retainer of sixpence per day paid quarterly and was subject of recall to active service in emergency.

In 1929 Arthur married Freda Beatrice West in Devises, Wiltshire.

After completing his first five year commitment to the RFR he signed on for a second five year period. Arthur's naval career with the RMLI concluded on 6th November 1933, his record marked; "not desirous of re-enrolment.

In 1939 the couple were living at 3, Sidmouth Street, Devizes there is no record of children. Arthur was employed as a Builder's Painter and Freda worked in the ticket office of a local cinema. Arthur died on 2nd March 1954 aged only 55, his estate was left to Freda and following her death in 1978 she was interred with Arthur in Devizes Cemetery.

Arthur's Medals, the 1914-15 Star British War and Victory Medals were sold and now form part of my collection.

Courtesy 'Moonraker' Find a Grave

James Law

 James Law

Most of the details confirmed about James are from his surviving military record and the 1901 census, the volume of men of this name hides other identifying facts. He was born around 10th September 1895 in Rayne, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in 1901 his family were living at House Kirktown, Rayne. His father Alexander was working as a Traction Engine Driver and his mother, Isabella, was looking after five sons aged between eight years and ten months, James was the third eldest.

On 9th January 1916 James attended an army recruitment facility in Aberdeen under the Derby Scheme. He attested, was medically examined and chose to defer his service to await call up, at this time he was single, working as a farm manager at Petty Farm, Fyvie, Aberdeenshire, he named his father as next of kin who was living at Lochside, Rayne. Posted to Army reserve 'A' he returned home with a day's army pay in his pocket and a grey armlet bearing a red embroidered crown to wear on his upper arm to show he had volunteered.

Derby Scheme Armlet

James was recalled in December 1916 and joined 42nd Training Reserve Battalion on the 9th. During 1916 an overhaul of army basic training was undertaken and instead of recruits being posted to a Regiment and trained by their reserve Battalions the existing training units were transfered to a Reserve specialising in Infantry training. 42nd TR Battalion had formerly been 11th (Reserve) Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders based at Bridge of Allan, Stirling, Scotland. 42nd TR was part of 9th Brigade, recruits with the three Scottish TR Brigades wore a Gregarry hat rather than the service cap and instead of a Regimental badge wore a general service button on a red background, 9th Brigade also wore kilts and hose. Basic training normally took 12 weeks but James was posted after only eight weeks to the Machine Gun Corps on 11th February 1917.

Until the end of 1915 heavy machine guns were held by Battalions who had specialist men to man the guns, it was decided these weapons would be more effectively used if deployed on a Brigade basis and the Machine Gun Corps was developed. The guns, both Vickers and Maxim were withdrawn from Battalions and replaced with the lighter Lewis Gun, the Maxim was gradually phased out and replaced by the Vickers. Training for the MGC Infantry took place at Belton Park near Grantham and involved theory in the classroom, practical work in respect of not only the weapon but the loading and unloading of General Service Wagons and drill specific to the role. Thomas completed his training and because of his previous experience on the farm with horses was qualified as both a machine gunner and horseman/driver. Thomas was posted to 230th Machine Gun Company which was formed in Egypt and on 24th April 1917 he embarked from England to join them.

The primary duty of British forces in this region was the defence of the Suez Canal which was the main artery of communication and supply from the south east. The canals loss would have been a major blow to the Allies especially on the Western Front and German led Ottoman forces occupying Palestine had commenced offensive action in 1915 through the Sinai Desert. In addition hostile Arab groups were organised to attack the British along the Egyptian Coast from the west. The defence of the canal was taken to the Eastern Bank of the canal to a depth to keep the canal traffic safe and operations mounted to push the Ottomans back. During 1917 and 18 a third offensive was pursued to firstly take the Ottoman held City of Gaza, three seperate battles were fought resulting in the fall of the city in November 1917. The drive east continued with the capture of Jaffa, southern Judea and Jeruselem, during 1918 the EEF went on the defensive as manpower was taken for the Western Front. A final push in September 1918 resulted in the destruction of three Ottoman Armies and the capture of 76,000 soldiers. Negotiations at Mudros concluded on 30th October 1917 resulting in an Armistice to take effect from noon the following day, the war in the East was over.

Sinai from Suez Canal to Palestine

Thomas landed at Alexandria on 1st June 1917 and on joining his unit was involved in the actions through Palestine apart from some hospitalisation for what was finally diagnosed as Malaria. He was in an unnamed facility from 26th September to 16th October 1917 and then on 28th November he was admitted to 45th Stationary Hospital from where he was evacuated to 31st General Hospital at Port Said. He spent Christmas 1917 at the MGC Base Depot at Helmia camp in Cairo before rejoining his unit.

In May 1918 the Machine Gun Companies were organised in Battalions of three Companies, 230th Company moved to 75th Battalion of 75th Division, Thomas was in B Company.

Thomas was again sent to hospital on 13th October 1918 with Malaria and remained away from the front until the end of hostilities in the region. On 21st February 1919 he sailed from Alexandria to the UK on troop ship Volumnia. Back in the UK he was sent to No 1 Dispersal Centre at Kinross in Scotland and was demobilised to Class Z Reserve on 11th March 1918. With no return to hostilities the Class Z Reserve ceased to be needed and was abandoned, Thomas was finally discharged from the army on sometime in 1920.

Thomas was awarded the British War and Victory Medals for his service and returned to live in Aberdeenshire. 

 Thomas Alfred Hudson

& Nathaniel Lomax

Thomas was born on 8th December 1896 in Farnworth, Lancashire and was baptised in the local St Peter's Church on 3rd February 1897. At that time his family were living at 72 Kent Street and his father, also Thomas Alfred, was employed as a Fish Hawker. There are large holes in the records after Thomas's birth, Thomas (senior) presumably died and mother Jane Ann remarried in 1903 Nathaniel Lomax at that time her name was Jane Annie Dillon a spinster. There are no records for 1901 but Nathaniel Lomax served as a soldier with the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment who at this time were in South Africa fighting the Second Boer War.

By 1911 Jane and Nathaniel were living at 112 Bridgewater Street, Farnworth with three children one of whom was Thomas. At this time Nathaniel was a Coal Hewer, Jane worked in a Cotton Mill as a Drawing Frame Tender and Thomas, now aged 14 had left school and was working at the Mill as a Mule Piecer. The piecer, also piercer or scavenger, was the lowest child's job, they worked under the Mule machinery cleaning the dust and oil, collected the cotton waste while the macine was in operation. The collected pieces of cotton were then weaved by nimble little fingers back into the operation, a dangerous job made so by the Tenters refusal to stop the machine as they were paid by volume produced.

On the outbreak of war Nathaniel, by now time served but a Special Reservist, joined his Regiment on 24th August 1914, initially posted to 3rd (Reserve) Battalion he embarked to France to join 1st Battalion on 29th November. Nathaniel joined 1st Battalion where they were based at Mazingarbe near to Bethune, on 22nd December they moved into the front line. During this night Nathaniel was captured and became a POW, there is no clue in the diary whether he was part of a patrol or captured by a patrol whilst standing sentry is not shown, he was sent to Wittenberg POW camp for enlisted men (Kriegsgetangenenlager). Jane was initially notified that her husband was missing but in March 1915 the War Office recieved the International Red Cross notification of his POW status, Jane was given the good news that her husband was alive.

The conditions in the many camps in Germany varied greatly, at this time thousands of Allied soldiers had been taken prisoner in the early German  advances of the war causing overcrowding and extremely poor conditions especially in Wittenberg: there was no change of clothing, insufficient food and water and poor sanitation. The lack of water meant personal hygiene suffered and clothing went unwashed, the camp containing 8,000 men, was a breeding ground for disease. Nathaniel became ill with Typhus and died on 16th April 1915, he was buried in Berlin South-Western Cemetery.

Jane was notified which must have come as an incredible blow, but she was awarded a pension of 23 shillings per week to keep her and the three children from the marriage. Nathaniel was awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War and Victory Medals, these with his repatriated personal possessions, his identity discs and two medallions, Memorial Plaque and Scroll were also sent to Jane.

At this time Thomas was still working in the Cotton Mill but during the beginning of May 1915 he enlisted in the Lancashire Fusiliers and was posted to 15th (Service) Battalion (1st Salford) also known as the 1st Salford Pals. 15th and 16th Battalions were formed in September 1914 by the MP Mr Montague Barlow and Salford Committee in Salford, Manchester. The Pals Battalions were an initiative in the early stages of the war to encourage men to join up from various groups, work, sporting or socially based, they guaranteed that groups of friends could enlist, train and serve together. Whilst they seemed a good idea and were no doubt sucessful as a recruiting tool they were disastrous for the communities they represented at such events as the Somme Offensive in which the 1st Salfords were destroyed on that first day.

That same month, May 1915, the Pals moved to Prees Heath in Shropshire but the ground was too wet for training and on 21st June the Division moved to Catterick in North Yorkshire. Physical training, drill, route marches and time on the ranges at Strenshall all helped to hone the men into a fighting force, in August they moved again to Codford on Salisbury Plain for final training in readiness for mobilisation for war. On 22nd November 1915 they landed in Boulogne for duty on the Western Front. After a stop in a rest camp followed by instruction in the trenches the Pals joined the rotational duties between; front line, support and reserve lines, when out of the line they cleaned up trained and formed working or carrying parties. Their first offensive action was on 1st July 1916 at Thiepval Ridge where the whole Battalion was almost wiped out causing huge distress from the Manchester communities from which the men were drawn.

Thomas was not with the Pals at the Somme Offensive, it is not possible to say why as his file did not survive, but at some stage he was transferred to the Manchester Regiment with the number 44294. Initially posted to 18th (Service) Battalion (3rd City) he was transferred to 11th (Service) Battalion retaining the same number. 18th Battalion had landed in France on 6th November 1915, 11th Battalion had been formed at Ashton-Under- Lyne in August 1914. This Battalion has served in Gallipoli until December 1915 and then withdrawn from the Peninsular to Egypt, in July 1916 it had embarked to Marseille. Initially based in the Arras area 11th moved to the Somme in September, it stayed in France for the rest of the war. The most likely explanation for this transfer is that Thomas was wounded, evacuated for hospital treatment in England and on return to France was posted from an Infantry Base Unit to where the numbers were needed.

At the beginning of 1918 the Tank Corps was raising extra Battalions and took its manpower from both newly conscripted men and seasoned Infantry, Thomas was transferred to the Tank Corps and was posted to 18th Battalion with the number 308448. This Battalion was formed at Bovington Camp on 18th February 1918 under the command of Major (later Lieutenant Colonel) W Pepys DSO, in May he was replaced by Lieutenant Colonel H. E. Norton. The establishment at this time was 30 officers and 200 ranks and Thomas was typical of the majority of enlisted men transferred from the Infantry with an average of 18 to 24 months service. Training was split between eight schools; driving and maintenance, gunnery - six pounder and machine gun, reconnaissance, signal and carrier pigeon, camouflage, revolver, gas and lastly compass school.

In June 1918 18th Battalion lost some men sent to France as reinforcements to the formations fighting there, but in August they were reinforced by experienced men from the old E Company who had recently returned from Palestine. They also recieved 229 newly conscripted men mostly farmers and miners, at full compliment there were 32 officers and 374 men. The Battalion was divided into three Companies each with a mobile workshop for maintenance, and by 1918 the tank design had moved from MkI in 1916 to Mk V . Each tank had a crew of eight men; officer commander, a driver and six gunners. The tanks were of two types, a male which had sponsons on either side each containing a Hotchkiss 6-pounder gun with 207 rounds and four .303 Hotchkiss machine guns, the female version had six .303 machine guns. 

Pigeon released from Sponson of Femal Tank (IWM)

Male Mk V Tank

Female Mk V Tank

During September 1918 orders were recieved for 18th Battalion to mobilise to France, on 2nd October they sailed from Southampton and landed at Le Havre the following day, this must have been at least the third time that Thomas set foot in France. The main force stayed in number 2 rest camp until the 6th October while an advance party went ahead to arrange tented accommodation at a training camp near Mirlemont, here they were Brigaded with 16th Tank Battalion and the 301st American Tank Battalion. Tanks were loaned from the gunnery school to continue training which was completed on 9th and the Battalion stood by for instructions for deployment.

On 11th November 1918 hostilities ended and the Armistice signed bringing a ceasefire into effect at 11 a.m. On 14th November the Brigade moved to billets at Orlencourt and Monchy Breton where they took possession of tanks, despite some needing substantial repair such as a new engine or gear boxes the Battalion made ready for a war they never had to fight. On 1st January 1919 the first batch of men left for the UK and demobilisation, these first men were all miners a priority group to fuel the industrial rejuvenation of the country's industry.

Throughout the winter months of 1918 a daily record of men taken to hospital sick is noted in the diary, this is no doubt the effects of the Spanish Flu of that year, it is likely that Thomas was affected as he suffered bronchial problems at this time and later. Demobilisation continued until 20th February when the last draft of one officer and 118 men were sent home, on 6th February 1919 Thomas was demobilised and posted to the army reserve class Z. This was a new reserve category developed in response to the Armistice in the event of a return to hostilities those sent home could be recalled to duty, in the event the system was not needed and Thomas was discharged on 31st March 1920, he returned to Bridgewater Street, Farnworth but to number 161. He was suffering a Bronchial condition which was deemed a result of his service and a medical examination graded his condition a 20% disability, he was awarded a pension of 5 shilling and sixpence a week from 7th February 1919. A 1933 study of both living and deceased victims of wartime Mustard Gas by doctors Harry L. Gilchrist, M.D., and Philip B. Matz, M.D. revealed that one of the residual effects was chronic Bronchitis, this was the likely cause of Thomas's condition and at least one of his transfers.

One of the two pension cards in respect of Thomas's condition shows him to be married, however, the next available record is the 1939 Register which records him living at 62, Gordon Street, Farnworth, employed as a Furnaceman and married to Ann E. Hudson born 5th June 1894, her antecedents have been elusive to-date.

Thomas was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals, these with his character reference and accompanying letter from the Tank Corps are now in my collection.

 Thomas Alfred Hudson

Thomas's birth was registered in the third quarter of 1882 and he was baptised on 11th October at Eccles, St Mary, Lancashire, the family home where he was born was; 179 Ellesmere Street, Patricroft, Lancashire, a suburb of Eccles, Manchester. Thomas's father, Jessie, worked as a Groom and Warehouseman, by 1901 Thomas had left school and was employed with his elder brother as a Carter. By 1911 his mother, Jane, had given birth to five children all serving to this date, Thomas had left home to join the army but was back home on reserve working again as a Carter.

On 10th November 1902 Thomas joined the Lancashire Fusiliers in Manchester, on this date he declared his age as 20 years and three months which places his birthday in August 1882. He was single and still working as a Carter, he was 5'4¾" tall, average height for the time, brown hair, grey eyes with a fresh complexion. Given the number 9257 he was posted to 2nd Battalion at that time based at Tidworth in Wiltshire, after service in South Africa during the second Boer War. Thomas had signed for the normal 12 years service, three with the colours followed by nine as a reservist. In 1904 he was awarded a good conduct badge and sucessfully completed a Mounted Infantry Course at Aldershot no doubt due to his previous experience as a Carter. On 12th February 1905 he was transferred to the Reserve, this transfer was was not due until November 1905 and other than it was conducted under King's Regs and with his agreement there is no explanation.

As a reservist Thomas was expected to complete a minimum number of training days per year plus summer camps, this involved drill sessions and time on the Rifle range where a standard test had to be achieved. During this period he returned to his job as a Carter and on 15th April 1911 he married Maggie Parker at Salford Parish Church, on 26th April 1914 the couple were blessed with a son, Thomas Alfred.

Following the outbreak of war 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers who were stationed at Dover were mobilised and on 5th August sent out joining instructions to their reservists, Thomas reported for duty on 7th August 1914 and commenced training at the Regimental Depot, Wellington Barracks in Hull, he was posted to 3rd (Reserve) Battalion on 7th November which was based at Withernsea as part of the Humber Garrison. On 4th December he was posted back to 2nd Battalion who had embarked to France on 22nd August, Thomas landed in France on 22nd November 1914.

During 1914 2nd Battalion had been engaged in the Battles of Le Cateau, Marne, Aisne and Messines, they were in need of reinforcements and at some point after a stay in an Infantry Base Depot (IBD) Thomas joined his unit in the field. A draft of 80 reinforcements joined the Battalion on 24th November, 108 on 13th December and 25 on 23rd December, all three were after the cut off date for the award of the 1914 Star which was replaced with the 1914-15 Star. By Christmas 1914 Thomas was in the trenches with his Company, at this time the Battalion were in Billets in the Le Bizet area and rotating between front line, support and reserve trenches. 

Le Bizet top left, map courtesy GWF

They entered the front line on Christmas Eve relieving 1st King's Own (Lancaster Regiment), the following day the whole Western Front was quiet.

On this first Christmas Day of the war an unofficial truce took place along the length of the Western Front, the trenches had been decorated and presents passed, chaplains conducted services, Princess Mary tins containing cigarettes, pipes, tobacco or sweets with a picture of the Princess and a card from the King and Queen were passed out. As the morning continued carols were sung by both sides and an invite extended by the Germans to join them in their trench, a few went but gradually the two sides met in No-man's land where cigarettes were swapped and even balls kicked about. Private Tom Watson, a pre-war Carter wrote to his former employers about the day, (this may have been where Thomas was employed).

Excerpt from the Boulton Journal 8th January 1915

The following day was quiet again but shooting resumed with one man being killed, Private 7590 E Wood who had been in France since 7th October 1914. The 2nd came out of the line on 28th December and the were engaged digging a new command trench due to flooding.

On 30th April 1915 Thomas entered the casualty chain with a foot injury which kept him away from his unit until 27th May, in this time 2nd Battalion had engaged in the 2nd Battle of Ypres (22 - 25.5.15). Thomas rejoined his unit in a draft of 139 other ranks, the Battalion was in the reserve line, the following day they relieved a Battalion of the Essex Regiment in the front line north of Irish Farm.

On 5th July 1915 the 2nd moved to Elverdinghe Wood near Pilkem where they bivoucked for the night, that day elements of the Rifle Brigade and Somerset Light Infantry had attacked a length of German line known as International trench, (shown on later British maps as Canal Alley) and had captured about 500 yards. 2nd Battalion's role was to help with the consolidation and defence of the line and fierce fighting continued until 11th July.

Map courtesy GWF

The attack on this trench system was designed to alleviate the situation on the north of the Ypres Salient and diversionary to disguise a British attack at Hooge. During the evening of 6th July 2nd Battalion relieved the Rifles and commenced work to repair and improve the parapets in readiness for counter attacks, the men worked all night. The 2nd then remained in the trenches until the evening of 9th July when they were relieved by a Battalion of York and Lancaster Regiment. In these few days the fighting had been severe but the Germans were repelled and the positions held, the casualties reflect the nature of the battle: killed - seven officers, 79 other ranks, wounded - 10 officers, 201 other ranks and 19 other ranks missing.

Thomas survived this battle but on 31st July he entered the casualty chain with a shoulder and knee injury, on 6th August he was transferred from 10 General Hospital at Rouen on hospital ship St Andrew to England. He was posted to 3rd Battalion and on 9th November 1915 he was discharged from the army as his 12 years service was complete plus an extra year which under King's Regulations at that time could be imposed in times of emergency.

In January 1916 the Military Service Act was passed which introduced conscription and removed the right of serving soldiers to leave the army on completion of their 12 year period. Thomas may have been conscripted back into the army but their is no record of such, returning to civilian life he died in 1928.