Thomas was born in London and lived in Deptford in the East End.  His mother died when he was 4 and his father married again. He ended up in a children's home in Bolton, then a working boy's hostel in Bolton where he was working in a bleach works.  He joined the territorial force of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment in February 1914 at aged 20 and was assigned to the 5th Battalion. His service number was 2256.  The battalion's HQ were in Fletcher St, Bolton. He quickly gained the rank of sergeant then colour sergeant trainer of musketry.  The territorial battalion left for France in February 1915. In July 1915 he had an operation to remove his appendix then was later discharged for 3 months.  On 8th Sept 1915 his father, step-mother and his young half-brother and 2 sisters were killed in a Zepplin raid on Hughes Field.  He rejoined the Loyal North Lancs, this time the 1/4th and regained his rank of sergeant. He was also given a new service number 202933.  In November 1916 he left for France. He was given leave in November 1917 when he married his neighbour and sweetheart, Amelia Atherton at St Paul's Church, Astley Bridge, Bolton. He went back to France after a short honeymoon. He was wounded and died of wounds on 17 April 1918.  He is buried at Fouquiers Churchyard Extension, France.  His sister Teresa who kept house for him in Bolton married Frederick Townsend in 1920. He had been a Lancashire Fusilier and had survived the whole war, mainly stationed in Macedonia. They had 4 children. Audrey and Beryl, twins have the portrait of their uncle Thomas and although they never met him, hold his memory dear.  He also has relatives living in Canada, his great nephew Peter and the Joyce family of Regina, Saskatchewan.

Jeanne Pennington