Year of birth: 1895

Place of birth: Altrincham, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom

Last known residence: 19 Ouse Street, Weaste, Greater Manchester, England, United Kingdom

Profession: Leerjongen ververij - Dyer's apprentice

Country: Verenigd Koninkrijk

Force: British Expeditionary Force

Rank: Lance Corporal

Service number: 280198

Enlistment place: Salford, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

Units:  —  Lancashire Fusiliers, 11th Bn.  (Last known unit)

Date of death: 10/08/1917

Place of death: Douglas Villa, Zonnebeke, Belgium

Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.)

Age: 22

1914-15 Star Medal

British War Medal Medal

Victory Medal Medal

Thomas Henry Ackerley was the son of Eliza Ann and Thomas Ackerley. He was born around 1895 in Altrincham, Cheshire. Before the war he worked as an apprentice in a dye works and lived in Weaste, Greater Manchester. Thomas enlisted in the British army and was part of the 11th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers (74th Brigade, 25th Division).

Thomas was killed on 10 August 1917 during the capture of Westhoek, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The brigade took up positions that ran from Rabbit Villa to in front of Glencorse Wood, with the left flank of the 11th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers situated on the Ypres-Roulers railway line. The objective was to capture the hamlet of Westhoek. The attack started at 4.35am. Due to an unnecessary order to provide support to the 9th Battalion Loyal North Lancs, Thomas' battalion suffered losses from artillery fire and snipers. In the morning there was persistent heavy German shelling. Consolidation was difficult. At 3.45pm, the right flank of the 11th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers was hit by heavy shelling. In addition, there was also persistent sniper fire, including from the vicinity of Sexton House. In the evening, several German counterattacks were repelled. The losses of the 11th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers were 31 dead, 45 wounded and 8 missing.

Thomas died at the age of 22. His body was found after the war near Douglas Villa. He was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he found his final resting place.

11 Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 95/2246/2). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used

British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO372). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used

Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG13). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used

Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG13). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used

McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), 46-48. Sources used

Soldiers Effects Records (National Army Museum, Chelsea (NAM) 1901-60; NAM Accesion Number: 1991-02-333). https://www.nam.ac.uk/ Sources used

War Office and Air Ministry: Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 329). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/461703

Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=0def62d6-6c3f-4f5a-b2ee-6684026b73d0

Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/629089