L/Cpl 16031 George William Thomas

George William Thomas was born in Oswestry on the 1st of October 1891, the son of George Edward Thomas and his wife Emma (nee Evans). His parents were both born in Shropshire, his father in Oswestry and his mother in Shrewsbury. They married around 1880. 

Before George’s birth, on the 1881 census, his parents were living in Oswestry, his father, 28, a builder and timber merchant, his mother 21, they employed a domestic servant.   

George had younger siblings Cyril Howell, born in 1883, and Georgina, in 1884, also born in Oswestry. 

When George was two years old and Cyril less than 1, in February 1884, his father died, at the age of 31, before the birth of Georgina.  His personal estate was valued at £3,388-9s-5d.  His brother William Hopkins Thomas was the executor. 

It is not known when or why his mother moved the family to Cheshire, but the 1891 census finds them at “Seabourne”, Martins Lane, Wallasey.  His mother is 31, living on her own means, with three children and a governess. George is aged of 9, his younger brother Cyril aged 7 and sister Georgina who was 6 years old. The family lived at a house called Seaborne in Martins Lane, Liscard. Emma is recorded as married, although her husband isn’t present at the time.

George was educated at Wallasey Grammar School and in 1897, aged 16, took up a position with the Bank of Liverpool and remained with the bank until he enlisted in the army.  George was an enthusiastic golfer and tennis player and was a member of the Bankers Golf Club and Secretary of the Manor Club, Liscard.  Prior to the war he had served with the Duke of Lancaster's Yeomanry, although no service record has been found. 

In 1901 they are at 9 Martins Lane, Wallasey.  His mother is described as a 41 year old widow living on her own means, George is 19, a bank clerk, Cyril is 17, an electrical engineer apprentice, and Georgina is 16. There is a servant recorded in the household, Jane Rimmer aged 17.  

Georgina married Alfred Frecant Burkenshaw in 1906, he was a theatrical costumier. Cyril sailed to the USA in 1907 and settled in Chicago. He became a US citizen in 1923.  

By 1911 George is living with his mother at 9 Martins Lane.  His mother is 51, living on private means, George is 29, a bank clerk. They have a domestic servant a 46 year old named Mary Humphries. 

He enlisted at St Geroge's Hall in Liverpool on 02nd September 1914, as Private 16031, joining 17th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment, giving his age as 32 years and 325 days and his occupation as bank clerk.  He is described as being 5’ 7 and a quarter inches tall, weighing 127 lbs, with a fresh complexion, hazel eyes and fair hair.  He gives his religion as C of E, and as next of kin his mother Emma, at 4 Princes Way, Wallasey.

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. 

He was appointed unpaid Lance-Corporal in October 1915 and sailed to France with his Battalion on 07th November 1915, having qualified as a machine gunner. He was encouraged to take up a commission on two occasions but turned down both opportunities.

George was killed in action on the 01st July 1916, reportedly struck in the head by a shell fragment whilst taking his machine gun into action. However many of the men killed with the 17th Battalion on the 1st July are officially listed as having died between 1st and 2nd July 1916.

17^th Battalion Diary

3.30 am the Battalion in position in assembly trenches -Battalion frontage from Maricourt – Briqueterie Rd to 100 yards west of Maricourt – Montauban Rd – 1^st wave, 2 platoons of A Company on the right and 2 platoons of B company on the left. 2^nd wave remaining platoons of these companies. 3^rd wave C Company and 4^th wave D Company in parallel trenches at about 100 yards distance. 3^rd Battalion 153^rd French Infantry on our right and 20 KLR on our left. The Battalion’s objective was Dublin Trench from Dublin Redoubt exclusive to a point 400 yards west.

7.30 am – “Zero Hour”. The assault commenced, some shelling but very slight infantry resistance and little machine gun fire encountered, the work of our artillery having been very effective on the German trenches.

8.30 am – the objective was taken at 08.30 am the French on our right gaining their’s at the same hour. Lieutenant-Colonel B C Fairfax and Commandant Le Petit commanding 3^rd Battalion 153^rd Regiment arrived together in Dublin Trench. A and B Companies dug in almost 100 yards south of Dublin Trench which the Germans shelled intermittently all day hardly touching the new trench. Casualties up to 12 noon, Captain E C Torrey commanding C Company, Lt D H Scott commanding A Company and 2^nd Lieutenant P L Wright wounded 100 other ranks. Later in the day the 90^th Brigade took Montauban and the 20^th KLR captured the Briqueterie. Lt Scott died of wounds in a French hospital at Cerisy where Captain Mirascou commanding the left Company of the French also lay wounded. Perfect liaison existed between the French and ourselves the above two officers commanding respectively our right Company and the French left Company being in constant touch. Shortly after the attack commenced the Battalion Headquarters moved to a German dugout in Favieres Support under Briqueterie Road where Commandant Le Petit also established his H.Q. During the remainder of the day there was intermittent bombardment of Dublin and Casement and  Favieres Support trenches. Rations were brought up safely at night. Disposition of the Battalion – 2 Companies in Dublin and 2 in Casement.

George's remains were not recovered from the battlefield and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

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.”

Liverpool Echo 14th July 1916 

WALLASEY CASUALTIES.  

Lance-Corporal George William Thomas, aged thirty-four, of Beresford-road, Wallasey, who was attached to the machine-gun section of the King's (Liverpool) Regiment, was killed by piece of shell while taking his gun into action. Corporal Thomas, who had twice declined a commission, was in the service of the Bank of Liverpool and was a member of the Bankers' Golf Club and the Manor Club, Liscard. 

He earned his three medals, which his mother signed for in 1920 and 1921.

George’s personal property went to his brother-in-law, Alfred Frecant Burkinshaw, living at 12 Beresford Road, Wallasey;  he received George’s gold band ring in July 1918 as well as a War Gratuity of £8-10s and a War Savings Certificate purchased by George while serving. Probate of George’s personal estate, giving his address as 4 Princes Way, Wallasey, was granted to Alfred Burkinshaw, theatrical costumier, in the amount of £1,215-7s-7d.   

In 1919 his mother provided information on George’s living relatives; She was living at Denton House, Sea Bank Road, Wallasey,  Georgina was living at 12 Beresford Road, and his brother Cyril, 36, was living in Chicago.  The declaration was witnessed by his father’s brother, a J.P. in Oswestry.

George is commemorated on the following memorials - 

Wallasey School War Memorial, Birket Avenue, Leasowe Wirral

The Old Wallaseyans Casualty List 

The Wallasey War Memorial, located in the Hospital on Mill Lane, Wallasey 

Bank of Liverpool & St. Martin's Memorial, which is now preserved in the foyer of Barclays Bank, 4 Water Street, Liverpool.

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