Pte
Edward Thomas
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1896 |
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Place of birth: Welshpool, Montgomeryshire, Wales, United Kingdom |
Army information
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Country: Wales, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 292999 |
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Enlistment place: Welshpool, Montgomeryshire, Wales, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Cheshire Regiment, 16th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 22/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Colombo House, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 21 |
Memorial
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Tyne Cot Memorial Panel: 63 |
Distinctions and medals 3
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British War Medal Medal |
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Territorial War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place |
My story
Private Edward Thomas served in the 16th Battalion Cheshire Regiment, part of the 105th Brigade of the 35th Division. This battalion was founded in Birkenhead as a Bantam Battalion, a battalion in which men smaller than the allowed length could enlist. The 105th Brigade took part in the First Battle of Passchendaele, one of the last phases of the Third Battle of Ypres. Their objective was a road south of Houthulst Forest.
On October 22, the 16th Battalion Cheshire attacked in the early morning in very bad weather conditions. They were on the right flank of the 105th brigade. The 16th Cheshire advanced from positions west of les 5 chemins. Heavy rain and constant shelling had turned the terrain into a swamp. Due to the sorry state of the ground the Battalion had a lot of difficulties following the artillery barrage, which was moving forward at a very slow pace of 100 yards per 8 minutes. Despite of the rain and mud, the right of the 16th reached their objective at Marechal Farm with relative ease. However the center and left were held up near Colombo House by fire from blockhouses in Houthulst Forest. It was decided to consolidate the line.
In the afternoon, however, a German counterattack broke through on the left of the 16th. The Germans broke through and the surviving Cheshires had to fall back to positions near their original line. Eventualy they restored the line with help from other units. After the counterattack, the 16th was relieved by the 15th Battalion.
During the attack on the 22nd of October 1917 the 16th lost more than a third of their soldiers that day. Private Edward Thomas was one of them. He possibly fell during the counterattack near Colombo House. His remains were never recovered or identified. His name is on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
On October 22, the 16th Battalion Cheshire attacked in the early morning in very bad weather conditions. They were on the right flank of the 105th brigade. The 16th Cheshire advanced from positions west of les 5 chemins. Heavy rain and constant shelling had turned the terrain into a swamp. Due to the sorry state of the ground the Battalion had a lot of difficulties following the artillery barrage, which was moving forward at a very slow pace of 100 yards per 8 minutes. Despite of the rain and mud, the right of the 16th reached their objective at Marechal Farm with relative ease. However the center and left were held up near Colombo House by fire from blockhouses in Houthulst Forest. It was decided to consolidate the line.
In the afternoon, however, a German counterattack broke through on the left of the 16th. The Germans broke through and the surviving Cheshires had to fall back to positions near their original line. Eventualy they restored the line with help from other units. After the counterattack, the 16th was relieved by the 15th Battalion.
During the attack on the 22nd of October 1917 the 16th lost more than a third of their soldiers that day. Private Edward Thomas was one of them. He possibly fell during the counterattack near Colombo House. His remains were never recovered or identified. His name is on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Sources 3
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16 Battalion Cheshire Regiment , (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/2487/2). https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14303 Further reference |
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Col. Arthur Crookenden, The History of the Cheshire Regiment in the Great War, (Bowerhill, Anthony Row Ltd., s.d., 2006) pg. 124-125. Sources used |
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McCarthy C., The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account, (London, Arms & Armour Press, 1995), pg. 122-124. Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/827425 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=f8a88225-4b2a-4fc5-ad97-1dbe4b1d071d |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/4402453 |