Name
Thomas (Tom) Docwra
31 August 1880
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/02/1919
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
241503
The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
3rd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GUILDEN MORDEN BURIAL GROUND
19. D.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Shingay cum Wendy War Memorial, Guilden Morden War memorial, Cambs, Steeple Morden War Memorial, Cambs
Pre War
Tom Docwra was born in Barrington, Cambridgeshire on 31 August 1880, the son of Tom and Letitia (Letty) Docwra. He had three older sisters, Harriet, Clara and Susan. Sadly his father died the following year and on the 1891 Census he was living with his widowed mother in Barrington High Street with his sister Susan and aunt Sarah Peters. His mother gave her occupation as charwoman.
His mother died in 1897 aged 61. Tom joined the army (Royal Fusiliers), and his reg. no. of 7498 suggests an enlistment date of 1899, although he was found to have deserted on 4 November 1899 and 6 January in Hounslow, however it is not known how long he served.
He married Emily Baker in 1910 in Royston. He and his wife were resident in Steeple Morden on the 1911 Census at which time he was working on a farm in charge of cattle.
Wartime Service
As indicated in the pre-war information above, Tom had previously served with the Royal Fusiliers and was probably recalled at the outbreak of war. He served with Royal Fusiliers as Private reg. no. 7498 and arrived in France on 26 October 1914. He was later transferred to the 2nd Battalion, Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment, from February 1916 and given the reg. no. T/241503. (N.B. He is listed as Royal Fusiliers on memorial).
He was listed on the Absent Voter List for Cambridgeshire for 1918 as serving with the 1/5th Royal West Surrey Regiment.
He died from influenza and bronchial pneumonia on 24 February 1919 at home in Flax Lane, Steeple Morden, and is buried in Guilden Morden Burial Ground, Cambridgeshire.
Additional Information
There are two entries for payment in the Register of Soldiers Effects which are confused by the misinterpretation of the surname spelling, however, it seems that his widow Emily received a war gratuity of £26 and pay owing of £26 3s 5d. She also received a pension of 15 shillings a week. No children were listed on the pension records.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
