Private. 1/6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment. Service number 1164.
Early life:
Thomas was born Wilsden in 1892, the birth registered in the third quarter of the year at North Bierley. His mother was Emily A. Thomas (née Stone) and his step-father was Edward C. Thomas. In 1901 he was eight and living at 117, Lidget Hill in Oakworth with his parents, two sisters and three brothers. His step-father Edward was a weaver’s weft carrier. By 1911 Thomas was eighteen and living at 12, Bengal Street in Keighley with his parents, two brothers and three sisters and one boarder. His step-father was a hoist minder and Thomas was a turner at an iron foundry, making textile machinery.
Aged twenty, he married eighteen year old Faith Bullock at St. Peter’s Church in Keighley on February 1, 1913. They were both living at 12, Back Colne Street. Their son, James Edward was born on Mar 17, 1914.
Territorial Army service:
On May 11, 1909 he had enlisted with the Territorial Army at Keighley, with the 6th Battalion, West Riding Regiment, number 8504. He attended five annual T.A. camps. His terms of service expired on May 10, 1913 but he re-engaged for two years under the surname Stone, with the service no. 1164.
He was embodied for overseas service on August 5 and signed for overseas imperial service on September 18.
He embarked at Folkestone on April 14, 1915 with the 1/6th Battalion West Riding Regiment and his name is on their nominal roll published in the book ‘Craven’s Part in the Great War.’ His terms of service expired on May 11, 1916 and he was sent from the front to Base Depot on May 5, then Le Havre and to England on May 17 with the 3/6th Battalion. He re-engaged and returned to France on August 5, 1916, landing at Boulogne the next day, and join the 34th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples. He joined the 1/6th Battalion West Riding Regiment in the field on August 26, 1916 and was killed in action on September 18, 1916.
Thomas was buried in grave 6, row W, plot VI of Lonsdale Cemetery at Authuille in France.
War diary entry for the 1/6th Battalion West Riding Regiment. September 1916:
TRENCHES Sep 17. The enemy artillery was not so active during the day. 3 pm: D Coy reported an enemy MG in an open position & artillery were informed. Some very accurate shooting was done & the MG was blown into the air, several wounded Germans were observed trying to get out of the trench but were sniped at & gave it up. 6.30 pm: The 7th W.R.R. attacked the German line on our left & succeeded in taking all their objectives, 1 gun, several men, thus strengthening the line across the LEIPZIG SALIENT to the same line as our bit. C Coy were placed under orders of O.C. 7 W.R.R. & moved up to HINDENBURG TRENCH & were heavily shelled. A Coy were busy carrying forward bombs. The attack was successful & no counter attack was made, the enemy retaliating with a very stiff barrage. Casualties: 5 killed (including Thomas Stone), 17 wounded by shell or shell shocked. A, B, C, and D Companies. 1164 Pte STONE T., D Coy. Killed by shell.
Keighley News September 30, 1916 page 9:
Private Tom Stones(sic), West Riding Regiment, of 7, Albion Terrace, Keighley, has been killed in action by the bursting of a shell. In April last his term of service expired, but he rejoined the colours. He leaves a widow and one child.
Post war:
He was posthumously awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal for his war service.
Remembrance:
Thomas is named in Keighley’s Great War roll of honour book, on display at Keighley Library. He is also in Keighley Town Clerk’s 1914 enlistments, and in Keighley’s Gallant Sons as an early war volunteer.
He is also named on the Oakworth Great War Centenary roll of honour which is on display at Oakworth Community Hall in the village.
