Edward Thomas was born at Kinnerley in May 1891. At that time he was at his grandmother’s house along with his mother, Lizzie Jane Thomas. His father, Edwin, was not present. By 1901 they were living at 56 Upper Brook Street. Oswestry, also present was a younger sister, Elizabeth, born in 1894. The family would later move to 11 Arthur Street. His father worked as a gardener. By 1911, Edward is working as an errand boy in a grocery shop on Bailey Street; he would later work for Messrs. Edward Thomas & Co, grocers on The Cross, Oswestry.

Edward first enlisted in 3/1 Bn Shropshire Yeomanry, a cavalry battalion and training unit stationed at Wrexham. This was probably in 1915. In summer 1916, the unit ‘dismounted’ and became a training infantry unit based at Oswestry Park Hall Camp with the existing draft transferring to other units including into Cheshire Regiment. It is likely that Edward was posted to 1 Bn Cheshire Regiment at this time. He was not awarded the 1915 Star so most likely went over to France as a draft in the first half of 1916. He was KIA on 5 September 1916 during the fighting at Falfemont Farm – a strong point occupying a spur of higher ground in the German lines to the south of Guillemont. At first he was reported as wounded and some time later as missing. In December there was still no news, his parents placed a notice in the Border Counties Advertiser –Edward had been ‘…officially reported as wounded on 5 September is now  posted as missing and wounded…(they)…would be glad to hear from any of his friends who can give any further information concerning him’. His body was not recovered and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Monument and has no known grave. He is also on the war memorial at St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry and at Christ Church, Oswestry.

Acknowledgements.

References and Sources

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