2nd Lt
Thomas Samuel Vesey Stoney
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 23/08/1898 |
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Place of birth: Rosturk Castle, County Mayo, Ireland, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: High School Student |
Army information
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Country: Ireland, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Second Lieutenant |
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Service number: / |
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Units: — Irish Guards, 1st Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 09/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Egypt House, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 19 |
Memorial
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Tyne Cot Memorial Panel: 10 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 1
| #1 | Place of birth |
My story
Thomas Samuel Vesey Stoney was born in the summer of 1898 at Rosturk Castle in County Mayo, Ireland. He was educated at St Claire in Walmer, Kent and later at Harrow, where he was head of his house. Thomas enlisted in 1916 and was promoted to second lieutenant in January 1917. He served with the 1st Irish Guards, part of the 1st Guards Brigade, of the Guards Division in Flanders from 20 September 1917. Thomas, aged 19, was killed in action on 9 October 1917. Not even a month after he had arrived at the front.
On the 9th the Guards Division advanced in the direction of the Houthulst Forest from positions along the Broembeek stream. The 2nd Grenadier Guards were the first to advance on the right. They crossed the stream at 5.20 a.m. More than an hour later they were followed by the 1st Irish Guards. When the Battalion had crossed the Broembeek quagmire they formed up and moved on.
By 8.20 a.m. the Irish Guards moved through the 2nd Grenadiers, who had captured the second objective at Vee Bend. Half an hour later Thomas’ Battalion advanced to the final objective near Les 5 Chemins and Angle Point. The advance of the troops on the right was held up by German defences, exposing the men to cruel flanking fire. Sniper fire from the Houthulst Forest caused further casualties. Notwithstanding the withering fire, the Battalion captured the fortified farm at Egypt House and cleared the Brickfield, which was defended stoutly. The advance was never checked and the Irish Guards consolidated their final objective. During the consolidation the sniper fire from the Houthulst Forest intensified resulting in heavy casualties to officers.
Thomas, only 19, was killed in action during the attack on the Egypt House area. Thomas has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
On the 9th the Guards Division advanced in the direction of the Houthulst Forest from positions along the Broembeek stream. The 2nd Grenadier Guards were the first to advance on the right. They crossed the stream at 5.20 a.m. More than an hour later they were followed by the 1st Irish Guards. When the Battalion had crossed the Broembeek quagmire they formed up and moved on.
By 8.20 a.m. the Irish Guards moved through the 2nd Grenadiers, who had captured the second objective at Vee Bend. Half an hour later Thomas’ Battalion advanced to the final objective near Les 5 Chemins and Angle Point. The advance of the troops on the right was held up by German defences, exposing the men to cruel flanking fire. Sniper fire from the Houthulst Forest caused further casualties. Notwithstanding the withering fire, the Battalion captured the fortified farm at Egypt House and cleared the Brickfield, which was defended stoutly. The advance was never checked and the Irish Guards consolidated their final objective. During the consolidation the sniper fire from the Houthulst Forest intensified resulting in heavy casualties to officers.
Thomas, only 19, was killed in action during the attack on the Egypt House area. Thomas has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
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/826519/stoney,-/ Sources used |
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The long long trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Sources used |
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War Diaries http://www.nmarchive.com/ Further reference |