Welch, Thomas Arthur George

Poppy on a wooden cross

Age: 25
Date of birth: 6th May 1892

Parents: Thomas and Agnes Maud Welch
Wife:
Address: 49 Victoria Street

Occupation: Soldier

Thomas was born in Horfield, Bristol, on 6th May 1892 and baptised, at Horfield on 25th May 1892. His father was a Quarter Master Sergeant and in the 1901 census, the family is recorded in the Horfield Barracks census returns. At this point Thomas and Agnes had three sons, Thomas (8), William (7) and Charles (5) and 2 daughters, Agnes (3) and Ethel (1). (The name is misrecorded as Wilch)

By the time of the 1911 census, Thomas Jnr. had enlisted and had been posted to Malta. His father was living at 49 Victoria Street, Warwick with his two daughters and a new wife, Mary Elizabeth and their three children.  Thomas Snr, now an army pensioner, was working as an infantry records clerk at the army records office.

Military Service

Rank & Number: Corporal, 8235
Regiment/Service: 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
Brigade/Division: 3rd Brigade, 1st Division
Date of death: Thursday, April 18, 1918
Cause of death/Battle: Died of wounds
Commemorated/Buried: Pernes British Cemetery, Pas de Calais
Awards: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Commemorated locally at: St Mary's School

At the time of the 1911 cenus, Thomas was listed on the census returns for the barracks on Malta as a Private (musician) in the 2nd Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment.

This item in the Warwick Advertiser of 27th February 1915, tells of Thomas being injured at Ypres not long after arriving in France.

Warwick Advertiser 4th May 1918

Contributors

  • Unlocking Warwick Research Group
  • Warwick Advertiser excerpts courtesy of Warwickshire County Record Office

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