Thomas Leonard Kelsall
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 12/12/1889 |
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Place of birth: Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Pottery Engraver |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Service number: 119585 |
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Enlistment place: Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Royal Field Artillery, 12th Bty. 35th Bde. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 21/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Château Wood, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 27 |
Cemetery
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The Huts Cemetery Plot: XIII Row: C Grave: 13 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal — 12/04/1920 |
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Victory Medal Medal — 12/04/1920 |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place |
My story
Thomas Leonard Kelsall was born in 1889. He was the eldest son of Keziah and Edward John Kelsall of Hanley, Staffordshire. According to the 1911 Census Thomas was employed as a pottery engraver. His whole family worked in the pottery industry. This isn’t surprising as Hanley was one of the largest producer of ceramics in Britain at the time. Thomas enlisted in Hanley and by the summer of 1917 he was serving with the 12th Battery of the 35th Brigade Royal Field Artillery, which was part of the Divisional Artillery of the 7th Infantry Division.
From 30 September 1917 onward the 7th Division participated in the Battle of Passchendaele, when it relieved the 5th Australian Division in the Polygon Wood area. The 35th Brigade Royal Field Artillery took up positions in front of Château Wood from where it supported the 7th Division in the frontlines at Polygon Wood and during its disastrous attack on the village of Geluveld on 26 October 1917. One week before the attack on Geluveld the 35th Brigade RFA started working on its positions at Château Wood to be able to cover Geluveld.
On 21 October 1917, a routine day for the Brigade, Thomas Leonard Kelsall, 27-years old, was killed in action. He possibly fell due to German counter-shelling on the positions at Château Wood. Thomas was buried in the Huts Cemetery, where he still rests today.
From 30 September 1917 onward the 7th Division participated in the Battle of Passchendaele, when it relieved the 5th Australian Division in the Polygon Wood area. The 35th Brigade Royal Field Artillery took up positions in front of Château Wood from where it supported the 7th Division in the frontlines at Polygon Wood and during its disastrous attack on the village of Geluveld on 26 October 1917. One week before the attack on Geluveld the 35th Brigade RFA started working on its positions at Château Wood to be able to cover Geluveld.
On 21 October 1917, a routine day for the Brigade, Thomas Leonard Kelsall, 27-years old, was killed in action. He possibly fell due to German counter-shelling on the positions at Château Wood. Thomas was buried in the Huts Cemetery, where he still rests today.
Sources 4
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com/ Further reference |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/156422/kelsall,-thomas-leonard/ Sources used |
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The Long, Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Sources used |
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War Diary 35th Brigade Royal Field Artillery http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Further reference |