Pte. William Henry Thomas – art student

What did the future have in store for William Henry Thomas? It could have been so different. His mother Amy died in 1903. She at least was spared the horror of the First World War. The last time Henry saw his son he was an art student.

William Henry Thomas was born in 1888, the only son of Henry William and Amy Thomas and baptised at St Paul’s Church on March 25. He grew up at The Eagle Hotel where his father was licensed victualler. The Eagle stood on the corner of Regent Street and College Street and was demolished during the redevelopment of the area.

A Swindon Soldier’s Death

The distressing news is to hand of the death – killed in action on May 25^th – of Pte. William Henry Thomas, of the H.A.C. He was the only son of Mr H.W. Thomas, of 63 Bath Road, Swindon, and was 29 years of age. Previous to joining the Army, about 18 months ago, Pte. Thomas had been studying art in London. He had been at the front since November last.

North Wilts Herald, Friday, June 1, 1917.

Until 9 April 1917, the Allied front line ran practically through the village of St. Laurent-Blangy. The trench (known to the Germans as Mindel Trench and called in 1918 McLaren Trench) was taken by the 9th (Scottish) Division on 9 April 1917, and the cemetery was made by the side of the trench after the battle. It was used by fighting units and field ambulances until September 1918, and was at times called Stirling Camp and St. Laurent-Blangy Forward Cemetery. Mindel Trench British Cemetery contains 191 burials of the First World War, nine of which are unidentified. The cemetery was designed by N A Rew.

From the Commonwealth War Graves website.

Thomas W.H. William Henry

Private 5116 A Company 1st Battalion

Honourable Artillery Company

Died of Wounds 25 May 1917 29 years old

Son of H.W. and Amy Thomas of 63 Bath Road

C24 Midel Trench British Cemetery St Laurent Blangy

One of the bells in Christ Church was bought by his father in memory of him in 1923.

Tell Them of Us by Mark Sutton