Name
Thomas Archer
02/08/1885
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/04/1918
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
King's Own Scottish Borderers
6th Bn.
"B" Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
KORTRIJK (ST. JAN) COMMUNAL CEMETERY
C. 29.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
QUI ANTE DIEM PERIIT SED MILES, SED PRO PATRIA
UK & Other Memorials
Kings Langley Village Memorial, All Saints Church Memorial, Kings Langley, Dulwich Collage Memorial to the Fallen of the Great War, Christ Church Collage, Oxford, WW 1 Memorial.
Pre War
Thomas Archer was born in Holborn, London on 2nd August 1885, the only son of William Archer a Barrister and Journalist and Frances Elizabeth Archer (nee Trickett).
1891 Census records Thomas age 5, living with his parents at “Walden” Mays Green, Ockham, Guildford, Surry. The family had one live-in Housekeeper.
1901 Census has Thomas aged 15, living at home with his parents at 71, Alleyn Park, Dulwich, London/Surrey. The family had two live-in Domestic Servants a Cook and a Housekeeper.
He attended Dulwich Collage, Dulwich, London, from 1897 to 1904, then going on the Christ Church Collage, Oxford, to study Law, graduating with a Law Degree in 1908, becoming a Solicitor in London in 1912.
He was a member of the London Regiment (London Scottish) (Territorial Force) with the service number 679.
Wartime Service
On the outbreak of war Thomas was working in New York, returning immediately to England and re-joined his Regiment. Leaving Southampton with his Regiment on 15th September 1914, aboard the SS “Winifredian” arriving at Le Havre, France, the following morning.
He was awarded a commission on 3rd January 1915, and transferred to the Royal Ordinance Corps, serving in the UK.
In 1916, he requested a transfer to see service on the Front and was posted to the Kings Own Scottish Borderers.
In 1917, he was wounded and returned to the UK to recuperate, whilst recuperating he married, Alice Kate Morty on 23rd February 1918, at Emmanuel Church, Hampstead, London, the daughter of James Monty a Grocer.
A few weeks later he returned to the Front and was reported missing on 25th April 1918, whilst leading his men in an attack on Mount Kemmel.
It is believed he was buried by the Germans some three days later (see CWGC Records).
Additional Information
His wife, Mrs. A. K. Archer, 48, Holmdale Rd, W. Hampstead, (N. W. 6). ordered his headstone inscription: "QUI ANTE DIEM PERIIT SED MILES, SED PRO PATRIA".
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
