Lt Harold D. Thewlis 1/7th Manchesters

[DavoT]

Hi all,

I'm trying to find an obituary for the above officer (no luck to date) who was KIA 4 June 1915. I have a lot of other information but trying to track this down. He was the son of James Herbert Thewlis who was made lord mayor of Manchester in 1905. Many thanks in advance.

Cheers,

David

[nhclark]

David,

If you go here: http://www.manchesterhigh.co.uk/ and click on "Archive" in the top rh corner, and then search on "Thewlis" there may be something of interest?

I found notice of his death in "The Times", 26th June 1915, but no obit.

Here http://www.archive.org/stream/manchesterun...ivrich_djvu.txt I found this:

Thewlis, Harold Darling. Son of James Herbert Thewlis,

Daisy Mount, Victoria Park, Manchester. Born 1890 at

Manchester. Woodlands S. ; Fallow field ; Manchester

G.S. M.U. : 1909 ; B.Sc. 1914 ; O.T.C. Oct. 1909 to

Sept. 191 2. Student at Holmes Chapel Agricultural Coll.

Gaz. 191 2 ; I /7 th Bn. Manch. R. ; Lieut. ; Second-in-

Command British Sudan Camel Corps ; Egypt and Gallipoli.

Killed 4th June 1915 at Helles, Gallipoli.

Noel

[linge]

David

There is an obit with photo in Bond of Sacrifice if you want a copy PM me with your email address and I will sort it out.

Regards

Pam

[DavoT]

David,

If you go here: http://www.manchesterhigh.co.uk/ and click on "Archive" in the top rh corner, and then search on "Thewlis" there may be something of interest?

I found notice of his death in "The Times", 26th June 1915, but no obit.

Here http://www.archive.org/stream/manchesterun...ivrich_djvu.txt I found this:

Thewlis, Harold Darling. Son of James Herbert Thewlis,

Daisy Mount, Victoria Park, Manchester. Born 1890 at

Manchester. Woodlands S. ; Fallow field ; Manchester

G.S. M.U. : 1909 ; B.Sc. 1914 ; O.T.C. Oct. 1909 to

Sept. 191 2. Student at Holmes Chapel Agricultural Coll.

Gaz. 191 2 ; I /7 th Bn. Manch. R. ; Lieut. ; Second-in-

Command British Sudan Camel Corps ; Egypt and Gallipoli.

Killed 4th June 1915 at Helles, Gallipoli.

Noel

Hi Noel,

thanks for your response. I have all this info you have mentioned. I also have a group photo of the officers of the battalion on mobilisation in 1914 in which Harold is included. I thought there would be an obituary somewhere as he was an officer and also the son of a former mayor of Manchester.

Cheers,

David

[DavoT]

David

There is an obit with photo in Bond of Sacrifice if you want a copy PM me with your email address and I will sort it out.

Regards

Pam

Hello Pam,

many thanks for you kind offer - PM sent.

Cheers,

David

[Tinhat47]

B.Sc. 1914

Is that Boy Scouts?

[nhclark]

Matt, you're having us on...

Bachelor of Science.

Noel

[Tinhat47]

I though it sounded like he was too old for Boy Scouts!

[John_Hartley]

The B.Sc gave me the clue - Thewlis is commemorated on the Manchester University war memorial.

He gets a mention in the first volume of the battalion history "With the Manchesters in the East", referring to 4 June:

"Subsequently the right flank of the battalion was not only enfiladed but exposed to fire from their rear. The officers at this deadly point were Lieutenants H D Thewlis, W G Freemantle and F C Palmer. Palmer was badly wounded. Thewlis, a keen subaltern and expert in scientific agriculture, refused to retire and was killed........."

John

[DavoT]

The B.Sc gave me the clue - Thewlis is commemorated on the Manchester University war memorial.

He gets a mention in the first volume of the battalion history "With the Manchesters in the East", referring to 4 June:

"Subsequently the right flank of the battalion was not only enfiladed but exposed to fire from their rear. The officers at this deadly point were Lieutenants H D Thewlis, W G Freemantle and F C Palmer. Palmer was badly wounded. Thewlis, a keen subaltern and expert in scientific agriculture, refused to retire and was killed........."

John

Hello John,

I recently obtained a copy of "With the Manchesters in the East" from N&MP with the hope it included something on Lt Thewlis, which it did as you have kindly stated in you reply.

Cheers,

David

[John_Hartley]

Unsurprisingly (to us locals), he was also educated at Manchester Grammar School.

Source: Manchester City Battalions Book of Honour

John

[DavoT]

David

There is an obit with photo in Bond of Sacrifice if you want a copy PM me with your email address and I will sort it out.

Regards

Pam

Hi Pam,

many thanks for the obituary and photo from Bond of Sacrifice. The final piece of the research has been placed. Thanks also to all who responded to my query. It just goes to show that nothing is too much trouble for members of this fantastic forum.

Cheers,

David

[Guest JJT]

Dear David,

Harold Darling Thewlis is remembered on the wooden panels in the wonderful Memorial Hall at Manchester Grammar School in Rusholme Manchester. An extract of the 1914-1918 panel is viewable on the MGS website but only the surnames beginning with "W" are readily legible.

My father, my brother and I are all "Sons of the Owl" but happily not "Lost Sons of the Owl" so we were reminded of the latter every schoolday as morning assembly was held in the Memorial Hall.

At school I was in the Memorial Hall Choir, which group of boys sang a specially chosen selection of songs on Remembrance Day in the Memorial Hall (that was in the sixties; I'm not sure this tradition has survived).

On another note I see that you are following several Thewlis'. My father holds in trust for the family the Military Cross awarded to Frank Thewlis. My father is also Frank Thewlis (of Gorton, Manchester) but I am not in DIRECT line genealogically.

I hope this information is a some value to you.

With best wishes,

John Joseph Thewlis, Manchester.

[Bishy]

Would you happen to have a picture of Lt Frank Thewlis,have been looking for a while.

Cheers John.