Help identifying soldier from "Lotus Ltd" Memorial Plaque.

[Top notch]

Can anyone please help with the following?

My nephew bought me a gift he found in a charity shop. He knows I am interested in anything related to the Great War.

He got me a Lotus Ltd. Memorial Plaque (pictures attached).

I knew absolutely nothing about these plaques until I got this one!

I started doing some background checks and found out Lotus Ltd manufactured shoes prior to and during WW1. They had premises at Stone, Stafford and Northampton. Apparently the family of any employee killed during WW1 received a Plaque, which included the rank and name of the former employee. Also, on the I.W.M. site, they have a picture of a wall mounted plaque, listing former employees killed during WW1 (1914 - 1919).

Now for the mystery! The name on my Memorial Plaque is faded but it is just possible to make out the name Private Harry Thomas. So who was Harry Thomas? Obviously he must have been an employee of Lotus Ltd, for his family to have been awarded a plaque? However, his name does not appear on the I.W.M. large wall plaque.

I have checked CWGC, there are many Harry Thomas' listed, but none from the Stone, Stafford or Northants area. I then checked CWGC for Harold Thomas and one name came up who fought with the Northants Regiment. Could he be my man and could he have been employed at Lotus Ltd., Northampton? But then why is he not listed on the wall plaque pictured at I.W.M.?

I would be most grateful to any members for any assistance or pointers to help me solve this mystery?

Many thanks, Eddie

[Alisonmallen62]

It might say Warwickshires

[NigelS]

Might it be that he survived the war with the plaques given to all  employees from the firm (or their next of kin) who served, not necessarily just those that gave their lives.  Nice item

 

Edit: have a look at this Auction item https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/lotus-ltd-stafford-ww1-memorial-478917580 this one gives  "LOTUS LTD. IN MEMORY OF BUGLER FRANK CLEMENTS WHO SACRIFICED HIS LIFE IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1919" indicating that there may have been two versions one for those that gave their lives and one for those that survived with different wording

 

NigelS

Edited 10 August , 2022 by NigelS
New info added

[HERITAGE PLUS]

Quote

Apparently the family of any employee killed during WW1 received a Plaque, which included the rank and name of the former employee

Quote

But then why is he not listed on the wall plaque pictured at I.W.M.?

Actually a plaque was awarded to all employees who served in the Armed Forces during the war regardless as to whether they survived or not.

The key is in the wording on your plaque - "For services rendered " which indicates that your man survived the war and hence he is not on the War Memorial.

The wording for a man who did not survive is shown in the photograph at the link below:

https://www.easyliveauction.com/catalogue/lot/2c15842fdc93390454258ca5493588ce/0af8d24542e81eb9357e7ef448a6646f/collectables-and-general/

Dave

[Alisonmallen62]

There are a few services records but I haven’t yet seen anyone working for lotus 

[HERITAGE PLUS]

The Company did not become Lotus Ltd. until 1919.

Company history here:

https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Lotus_(Shoemakers)

Dave

 

 

[Top notch]

Hi Alison, Nigel and Heritage Plus,

Thanks for the help. It seems, thankfully, that Harry did survive the war and that Lotus did give plaques to survivors also? I note the difference in the writing on the plaques from the examples you posted.

Do any of you know if Lotus kept records of employees up to and during WW1? I would love to find more about Harry, but I guess it will be a bit of a "needle in a haystack?"

Eddie

[Terry_Reeves]

The 1911 census shows a Harry Thomas of 27 Pilgrim St, Stafford , shoe machinist , age 17. His brother William was also in the same trade.

Tho

This might also be of interest:

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/3270be59-ac96-4786-baf4-3c5439cbbd32

TR

Edited 11 August , 2022 by Terry_Reeves

[Top notch]

Hi Terry,

Thanks for such a quick reply.

That's encouraging, right name. right location and right profession. Could be my man? 

I can check Ancestry military to see if anything cross references (would probably have been in one of the "Staffs" regiments?

Also I can check how close pilgrim St. was to the Lotus factory in Stafford.

Thanks again,

Eddie

[Terry_Reeves]

Just now, Top notch said:

Hi Terry,

Thanks for such a quick reply.

That's encouraging, right name. right location and right profession. Could be my man? 

I can check Ancestry military to see if anything cross references (would probably have been in one of the "Staffs" regiments?

Also I can check how close pilgrim St. was to the Lotus factory in Stafford.

Thanks again,

Eddie

Eddie

I had just added something to my original post when your message popped up. 
 

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/3270be59-ac96-4786-baf4-3c5439cbbd32. It might be of interest.

TR

[corisande]

27 minutes ago, Terry_Reeves said:

The 1911 census shows a Harry Thomas of 27 Pilgrim St, Stafford , shoe machinist , age 17.

There are a number of Ancestry Trees that include him - click - but none get past the 1911 census that Terry refers to.

[HERITAGE PLUS]

Quote

Also I can check how close pilgrim St. was to the Lotus factory in Stafford.

The Factory was in Gaolgate Street and you will see that your mans's home was not far away.

Edited 11 August , 2022 by HERITAGE PLUS
Typo correct.

[Top notch]

n spend some time tonight looking through your leads. It all sounds promising?

Thanks again, Eddie.