Name
Thomas John Moody
30 May 1889
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/07/1916
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
4723
London Regiment (Queen's Westminster Rifles)
1st/16th (County of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
FONCQUEVILLERS MILITARY CEMETERY
I. L. 1.
France
Headstone Inscription
YOUNGEST SON OF CHARLES & MATILDA HENRIETTA MOODY ROMSEY, HAMPSHIRE, ENGLAND BORN MAY 30TH 1889
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial, Romsey War Memorial, Hampshire
Pre War
Thomas John Moody (known as Tom) was born on 30 May 1889 in Romsey, Hampshire, the son of Charles and Matilda Moody and one of seven children.
On the 1891 Census the family were living in Church Street, Romsey, where his father was working as a Gunmaker, Cutler and Fishing Tackle Manufacturer. His aunt Charlotte Moody, a schoolmistress and head of a Board School was living with them.
His mother died in 1898, aged 44, and on the 1901 Census the family were living at 13 Church Street, Romsey where his father carried on his trade as a Gunmaker & Cutler and his aunt Charlotte Moody, a schoolmistress, continued to be part of the family.
They remained at the same address in 1911, but only Tom, his brother William, and his sister Mabel were at home, along with his aunt Charlotte, by that time a retired schoolmistress. Tom was a College Student, William was working with his father as a gunmaker and sister Mabel was the housekeeper.
Tom trained and qualified as a teacher and in 1912 obtained a post as Assistant Schoolmaster at George Street primary school in Hemel Hempstead.
Wartime Service
On the outbreak of war in 1914, Tom, who was not physically robust, tried to enlist but was rejected and deemed unfit for service, however he made a second attempt in October 1915 and was accepted.
He enlisted with the London Regiment (Queen's Westminster Rifles) and was sent to nearby Leverstock Green where they were billeted. He was stationed at Kingston-upon-Thames and completed his training at Winchester until June 1916 when he was posted to the 1st/6th Battalion and sent to France on 24 June and arrived near Arras on 4 July, Within a two days he was in the trenches at Fonquevillers in appalling conditions, with the Battalion War Diary recording that some of the trenches were waist deep with water in some parts.
He had only been at the front for five days when he was shot by a sniper and badly wounded. He was being taken to a Casualty Clearing Station when he died en-route, aged 27.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of £2 17s 8d. No pension appears to have been payable.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.hemelheroes.com., www.roll-of-honour.com.
