A/Cpl 15861 Frederick Thomas

• Age: 25
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Frederick Thomas was born on 08th August 1890 at Liverpool and was baptised on 17th September 1890 at St John's Wesleyan Methodist Church, Princes Park, Liverpool. He was the son of Thomas William Thomas and his wife Sarah Ellen (nee Hughes) who were married on the 22nd July 1885 at Mt Zion Welsh Wesleyan Chapel, Princes Avenue(from family tree).  Fred had older siblings William Reginald and Ethel, and younger siblings Arthur Rhys and Gwendolyn.

The 1891 Census finds the family at 10 Arundle Street, Toxteth Park, with three children. His father, Thomas W., is aged 30, a clerk, mother Sarah E. is 27. There are three children in the household; William R. 4, Ethel 2 and Frederick is 7 months old everybody born in Liverpool. 

He enrolled in Granby Street Council School in 1896, by which time the family had moved to Hemans Street.

In 1901 they are at 26 Hemans Street, Toxteth, with four children and a servant. His father, Thomas W., is aged 40, a marine clerk, mother Sarah E. is 37. There are four children in the household; William R. 14, Frederick is 10, Arthur 8 and Gwendolyn 5. 

The 1911 Census shows the family are still living at 26 Hemans Street, Liverpool. His father, Thomas Wiliam, is aged 50, born 1861 in Toxteth, Liverpool, his occupation is shown as a commercial clerk for timber broker, his mother, Sarah Ellen, is aged 47, born 1864 also in Toxteth, Liverpool, she has no occupation shown. They have been married for twenty five years and have five children, all of whom were born in Liverpool. William Reginald  aged 24, born 1887 a civil service clerk with the post office,  Frederick aged 21, born 1890 occupation bankers clerk, Arthur Rhys aged 18, born 1893 apprentice sculptor, Ethel aged 22, born 1889 and Gwendolen aged 15, born 1896 are assisting at home. They also have a niece named Dorothy Gertrude Darch aged 2, born 1909 living with them.

Frederick completed his education at Liverpool College.

Prior to the was he was employed at the Union Bank of Manchester based in Liverpool.

He enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool joining the 17^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private 15861. He gave his age as 24 years and 20 days, and his occupation as bank clerk. He is described as being 5’ 10 and 3/8 inches tall, weighing 138 lbs, 36” chest, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and light brown hair. He gave his NOK as father Thomas W., 12 Kelvin Grove, and religion as Protestant (non conformist). He served in No.4 Company. 

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

His younger brother Arthur also enlisted as Pte 15418 in the 17th Battalion K.L.R., on 09th December 1914.

The brothers shipped to France together on 07th November 1915, disembarking at Boulogne.

Frederick had reached the rank of acting Corporal when he was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 26, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive. 

17th Battalion Diary 

The Battalion was in support to 19 & 20 Battalions K.L.R. 2 Coys. behind 19th & 2 Coys. behind 20th. Very thick mist. The attack was pushed home to the objective in places but in the main was held up by machine gun fire from hidden machine guns.

Fighting continued all day swaying backwards and forwards until by 6pm about 300 yards in depth had been gained & consolidated all along our front.

Casualties in the 17th Battalion were 15 Officers and 281 Other Ranks

Further details are reported in more detailed by Everard Wyrall in his book The History of the King’s Regiment (Liverpool) 1914-1919 Volume II 1916-1917

The 17th King’s had advanced (two companies each behind the 19th and 20th Battalions) in small columns. They too suffered heavily from machine-gun fire and were quickly absorbed into the waves that preceded them. They also shared the gains and losses of that terrible day.

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55th Division during the early hours of the 31st July. 

The events of 30th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone. 

He was initially reported Wounded, later amended to Killed in Action. His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 24th August 1916:

“Corporal Frederick Thomas, “Pals”, the second son of Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Thomas, 12 Kelvin Grove, was killed in action.  He completed his education at Liverpool College, and was employed in the Union Bank of Manchester, Liverpool. He was one of the first dozen “Pals”, and a comrade writes that his noble life was a splendid example to all, and that he endeared himself to everyone with whom he came in contact.”

Frederick's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916 

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

In the Liverpool Echo, on the first anniversary of his death on 30th July 1917 under the heading ‘Lost At The Battle of Guillemont’ the following tribute appeared: 

“In honoured and treasured memory of my comrades, Corporal Fred Thomas, and Privates Howell Collett and Frank Harper (K.L.R.), killed in action, July 30, 1916. – “Nobby”

Fred earned his three medals.

His Army effects and a War Gratuity of £9-10s went to his father.

His elder brother William, a Post Office telegraphist, attested on 11th December 1915, was placed on the Reserve, and mobilised on 04th April 1918 and posted to the Royal Engineers Signals on 15th April 1918. He served at home and was discharged on 14th December 1918 as surplus to military requirements having suffered impairment since entry into the service.

His brother Arthur, who had joined the 17th Battalion K.L.R. was later attached to the 8th Loyal North Lancs Regiment after recovering from wounds during the Big Push. He was again reported Wounded in the Liverpool Daily Post on 25th September 1916 and in October was reported Killed in Action on 26th August 1916. His brother William contacted the International Red Cross but was informed that they held no information on Arthur. However, while mourning their second son killed, days after being notified of his death, his parents received a postcard from Arthur saying he was wounded and a prisoner of war in Germany.

Soldiers’ Effects had recorded his death on 26th August 1916 and a later entry states, ‘Man Alive and a prisoner of war at Darmstadt’

Liverpool Daily Post - Saturday 21 October 1916 

WOUNDED AND A PRISONER.  

Private Arthur R. Thomas, the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Thomas, 12, Kelvin-grove, Liverpool, who was officially reported killed in action, and whose death was announced as recently Wednesday, has now written to his parents. They received card yesterday morning, dated September 27, on which he said he was wounded and prisoner of war at Darmstadt, Germany, and was going on all right. joined the K.L.R. soon after the outbreak of war, and crossed over to France at the beginning of November, 1915. He was wounded in the great push in July, and after recovery was attached to the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. Before joining the Army he was in the employment of Mr. E. O. Griffith, architectural carver and sculptor, and was last engaged on the new Cunard Buildings. His brother Fred was killed on July 30. 

Arthur had been captured (place unknown) on 27th August 1916 and ICRC records show he was treated at a POW hospital at Caudry (10 miles ESE of Cambrai) with wounds to the shoulder and upper arm. A German list dated 01/11/1916 shows him in Darmstadt POW camp hospital “bombenverletz. bd. beine” (bomb injuries, both legs). This could mean he was kept as forced labour at the front and injured in Allied bombing of the German lines.  Arthur was repatriated and discharged on 14th December 1918.

Fred is also remembered on the following Memorials:

Liverpool Collegiate

St. Andrew’s Parish, West Kirby

Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 36

Also on the family gravestone in Grange Cemetery, West Kirby - 

             In loving memory of

           FREDERICK THOMAS, 

KILLED IN ACTION, GUILLEMONT, 

       30TH JULY 1916, AGED 25 

In 1919 his parents, with William, Arthur, Ethel and Gwendolyn, still lived at 12 Kelvin Grove.

His parents appear on the 1939 Register at “Kingsland”, 4 Princes Ave, West Kirby. Thomas W., dob 22nd Jan 1861, a retired timber broker, Sarah E., dob 19th Sept 1863, and children William R., Ethel and Gwendolen.  

His father died on the 28th August 1940 aged 79 and his mother in 1945 at the age of 81. 

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on Thursday 29 August 1940: 

THOMAS - August 28, suddenly, 4 Prince's Avenue, West Kirby, in his 80th year, THOMAS WILLIAM, the dearly-beloved husband of Sarah Ellen Thomas (late of 12 Kelvin Grove, Liverpool). Service at Methodist Church, Westbourne Road, West Kirby, on Saturday next 2.30 p.m.; interment at Grange Cemetery, West Kirby at 3 p.m. 

We currently have no further information on Frederick Thomas, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.