Rfn
Thomas William Rouse
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 25/04/1878 |
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Place of birth: Paddington, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Postal Sorter |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Rifleman |
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Service number: 375567 |
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Enlistment place: Paddington, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — London Regiment, 2/8th Bn. (Post Office Rifles) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 30/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Nobles Farm, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 39 |
Memorial
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Tyne Cot Memorial Panel: 151 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place |
My story
Rifleman Thomas William Rouse was part of the 2/8th (City of London) Battalion (Post Office Rifles), 174th brigade, 58th Division. This battalion took part in the Second Battle of Passchendaele. The jump off line ran through Poelcapelle to Meunier House and Tracas Farm, south of the Lekkerbotterbeek. On 30 October 1917 at 5:50 a.m. they attacked south of Poelcappele. The objectives were Moray Farm, Papa Farm, Hinton Farm and Cameron house. The purpose of the attack was to support the main attack on Passchendaele Ridge by the Canadians.
The Battalion failed to take any objectives except Nobles Farm which was captured by the 2/6th on the left. They were able to advance and establish a new line 100 yards in front of the previous frontline. Although the British were supported by an artillery barrage, this was reported to be weak and advancing too fast. Due to the bad ground conditions the battalion could not keep up. At 5:44 the war diary notes that a German counter-barrage stared, which made casualties. 34 men were killed and 173 missing. Rifleman Thomas William Rouse was most likely killed while advancing to the objectives as his body was never found. He is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
The Battalion failed to take any objectives except Nobles Farm which was captured by the 2/6th on the left. They were able to advance and establish a new line 100 yards in front of the previous frontline. Although the British were supported by an artillery barrage, this was reported to be weak and advancing too fast. Due to the bad ground conditions the battalion could not keep up. At 5:44 the war diary notes that a German counter-barrage stared, which made casualties. 34 men were killed and 173 missing. Rifleman Thomas William Rouse was most likely killed while advancing to the objectives as his body was never found. He is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Sources 6
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[n.n.], History of the Post Office Rifles 8th battalion City of London Regiment : 1914 to 1918, 1919, 25 Sources used |
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com/ Sources used |
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Chris McCarthy, Passchendaele : The Day-by-Day account, 2018, 154-155. Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/828269/rouse,-thomas/ Sources used |
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Naval & Military Archive http://www.nmarchive.com/ Sources used |
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The Long, Long trail https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/ Sources used |