Sgt O Thomas RGA for 19 years

[Hywyn]

A local Caernarfon newspaper dated 5th December 1915 has a photo of a soldier and gives this account.

Sgt O Thomas son who died at Rouen Hospital on 26th September of tubercular meningitis aged 36 years. He leaves a widow and small daughter. He was with the 3rd Echelon India Section at the General Headquarters. He had been for some considerable time with the RGA in France and had been in the army for 19 years.

I cannot match him to any O Thomas on CWGC or the 15 O Thomas on SDGW.

The O will most probably be Owen (although of course I cannot discount any other possibilty) There is an Owen Thomas on the memorial whom I cannot easily identify at this stage.

Could someone please check the Overseas Index for an O Thomas in the last two quarters 1915.

TIA

Hywyn

[Terry Denham]

There is no O.Thomas RGA listed on the GRO Overseas Death Index.

[Terry Denham]

There is a Pte Owen Thomas 2501 Monmouthshire Regt died 1915 (The overseas index only gives year and not quarters).

That is the only 'Welsh' unit for an O.Thomas (was Mon Welsh in WW1?)

[Terry Denham]

There is a Sjt Owen T. THOMAS RFA who died in 1916.

[Hywyn]

Thanks Terry

CWGC has the RFA one as 23 years.

The information seems so specific with dates, units etc. I'll review the info next visit and look up the other papers etc.Possibly splash out a quid for the photo for unit identification.

At the moment I'm stumped.

hywyn

[mhifle]

Hi hywyn,

Here are all the O.Thomas's who died 1915 I could find.

Oliver Thomas Pte 2501 Mon.R. 1915

Oliver L Thomas Pte 968 Seaforths 1915

Oscar Thomas Pte 17160 Lane.Fus 1915

Owen Thomas Spr 6671 R.E. 1915

Regards Mark

[Hywyn]

Thanks Mark

I've just re-checked CWGC and they match the only 4 results for O Thomas 1915, Army, UK. The nearest in date is Oscar but he is on Helles Memorial.

None fit in with my newpaper account which I will now review.

Hywyn

[Kevin O'Marah]

Hywyn, there is a Private 56941 Owen Thomas, born Caernarvon, residing at Holyhead died 26/9/1917 France and Flanders.

Hwyl

Kevin

[mhifle]

Hi Hywyn

Just found this man close to the date, but the rank is Private not Sergeant, and he was not in France.

Regards Mark

THOMAS, JOHN OWEN

Initials: J O

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Private

Regiment/Service: Royal Welsh Fusiliers

Unit Text: 4th Res. Bn.

Date of Death: 04/12/1915

Service No: 7443

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: B. 45.

Cemetery: PEN-Y-CAE (SALEM) BAPTIST CHAPELYARD

Name: THOMAS, John Owen

Regiment: Royal Welsh Fusiliers

Battalion: 4th Reserve Battalion.

Last name: Thomas

First name(s): John Owen

Initials: J O

Birthplace: Rhos, Denbigh

Enlisted: Ruabon, Denbigh

Rank: PRIVATE

Number: 7443

Date died: 04 December 1915

How died: Died

Theatre of war: Home

[Hywyn]

Kevin and Mark

Thanks for that.I;m in the process of going through the ones on Ancestry to see if there is something there.

Hywyn

[mhifle]

Hi Hywyn,

These are the Thomas's buried in Rouen in 1915.

Regards Mark

THOMAS, WILLIAM

Initials: W

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Private

Regiment/Service: Royal Welsh Fusiliers

Unit Text: 1st Bn.

Age: 29

Date of Death: 22/05/1915

Service No: 6893

Additional information: Son of John and Margaret Thomas, of Newport, Mon.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: A. 10. 7.

Cemetery: ST. SEVER CEMETERY, ROUEN

THOMAS, JOHN

Initials: J

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Private

Regiment/Service: Welsh Regiment

Unit Text: 9th Bn.

Age: 38

Date of Death: 27/11/1915

Service No: 2056

Additional information: Son of John and Elizabeth Thomas, of 85, Park St., Bridgend.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: A. 15. 8.

Cemetery: ST. SEVER CEMETERY, ROUEN