Name
William Henry Whellan Thomas
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/01/1919
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
3804
13th Hussars
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BROOKWOOD 1914-1918 MEMORIAL
Addenda Panel
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Rickmansworth UDC Memorial St Mary’s Church Roll of Honour, Rickmansworth
Pre War
William Thomas was born in 1891 in Lambeth, London, son
of William H and Eliza Thomas. In 1901 he was living at 3 Fortune Terrace,
Rickmansworth where his father, originally from Haverford West, was working as
a house decorator. William was the eldest son with 2 younger sisters and 2
younger brothers. The family had lived in Islington for a few years before moving
to Rickmansworth in about 1900. His mother died in 1902 and in 1911 his father
was living at 6 Fortune Terrace. The 1911 census shows a William Henry Whellan
Thomas, aged 21, a Private, in Meerut, India, presumably with the 13th Hussars.
His place of birth is given as Liverpool, which is where his mother was born,
and not Lambeth. However, the information from St Mary’s Church magazine seems
to confirm that this is the right person.
Wartime Service
St Mary’s Church magazine for November 1914 records that
W H W Thomas was serving with the 13th Hussars in Meerut in India. The Regiment
left India in November 1914, arriving in Marseille in December. They were on
the Western Front until June 1916 when they returned to India and then to
Mespotomia where they served until the end of the War. After the Armistice
they remained in the vicinity of Mosul,
returning to Baghdad in January 1919. He died of lymphedema on the HS (Hospital
ship) Devanha on its return to England.
He is buried at Brookwood Military Cemetery, the largest
Commonwealth War Cemetery in the UK, which was used for burials of service
personnel in WW1 who died in the London area.
Additional Information
His soldier’s effects and a War gratuity totalling £74 was paid to his father Henry.
Acknowledgments
Pat Hamilton
Malcolm Lennox, St Mary's Church magazine, Pat Hamilton
