Name
Thomas George Earl
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/05/1916
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
451106
Canadian Infantry
58th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 18-24-26-30.
Belgium
UK & Other Memorials
Christ Church Memorial, Watford,
Mimico Lodge Roll of Honour, Lambton Mills, Ontario,
Sons of England War Memorial, Toronto, Ontario
Pre War
Son of Samuel George and Mary Ann (nee WOODFORD) EARL of Peckham, London; husband of Sarah (nee CAMPBELL) EARL of Toronto.
His parents married 1884 in the West Ham, Essex, district. Samuel died 1945 in the Camberwell, London, district aged 82; Mary died 11 February 1950 in Watford aged 86, and was buried 16 February in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford.
Thomas was born 26 June 1887 in Camberwell, and baptised 7 August 1887 at St Mary Magdalene, Peckham, London. He went to Canada 6 April 1906 aboard the Tunisian Liverpool to Toronto: a butcher aged 18. He married 2 October 1915 in York County, Toronto.
On the 1891 Census, a scholar aged 3 he lived in Camberwell, with his parents and three siblings. On the 1901 Census, aged 13 he still lived in Camberwell, with his father and four siblings. On the 1911 Canadian Census, a butcher aged 23, he was a lodger in York Township, Ontario.
Wartime Service
He attested 5 August 1915 at Niagara, Ontario: a butcher aged 28 of Toronto, 5’5″ tall, C of E, unmarried.
He arrived in England 2 December 1915 and embarked for France 20 February 1916.
He was killed in action whilst acting as a stretcher bearer in the front line trenches during an action in the vicinity of Maple Copse, he was hit by a piece of enemy shrapnel, which penetrated his lung. He succumbed to his injuries fifteen minutes afterwards.
Additional Information
There is an article about Thomas in the Toronto Star, no date given.
His half-brother Albert died 31 December 1915 and is also included on this Roll of Honour
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
