William Thomas was born in Bagillt in circa 1892 and was the third of five children to John Thomas and Amy (Morgan).

John was born in Bagillt and Amy in Nant-y-Glo, Monmouthshire and they were married on 3rd November, 1884 at St Mary’s Parish Church, Bagillt. John was previously married to Elizabeth Davies (1859-1883) and they had two children, Edward and Elizabeth.

John worked at the Bettisfield Colliery, Bagillt and he and Amy lived at Pen y Bryn, Bagillt for many years until the moved to 3, Cambrian Terrace, Station Road..

William married Margaret Ann Morgan of 2, Upper Queen Street, Flint, somewhere locally in 1913 and they had two children – Margaret Amy (1914-1920) and John Llewellyn (b1917), and they lived at 9, Princes Street, Flint.

William enlisted in Wrexham in July, 1915 and while serving in France in January, 1918 he was severely wounded and was transported to a hospital in Birmingham where he died while undergoing an operation.

His body was returned to Flint and buried in the Northop Road Cemetery (Grave 4, Line 35, South Side).

MILITARY FUNERAL
(County Herald 25th January, 1918)

On Saturday afternoon, the funeral took place of Private William Thomas, of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and whose home was at 9, Princess Street, Flint. Deceased, who was 25 years of age, was a native of Bagillt, where his parents, Mr and Mrs John Thomas, reside in Cambrian Terrace, and had been in the Army some time. He was at the Front seven weeks when he was wounded and conveyed to England for treatment. Subsequently, he underwent an operation in a hospital in the Midlands, where he died on the Monday. Prior to enlistment, he was employed at an ironworks; he leaves a widow and two children to mourn his death, which is lamented by relatives and friends. The remains were conveyed from the Midlands hospital to Flint on the Tuesday evening; and communication having been made with the Military Depot at Wrexham, the Authorities there decided to send a bearer party in order that the interment of the remains should be accorded military honours as far as those were available. At the residence, the Union Jack was placed over the coffin, and after the opening sentences of the burial office were read by the Rev H H Williams BA (curate), the remains were borne to the St Catherine’s (welsh Church), where the Rev Canon W Ll Nicholas, VD (Lieut Col Chaplain), conducted a very impressive service. The hymn, ‘Peace, perfect peace,’ was feelingly rendered by the large congregation; and as the remains were being carried from the edifice, the ‘Dead March’ was played by Mrs Kemp, the assistant organist. The mournful profession was then reformed at the church doors, and proceeded to the Cemetery. There the committal lines were read by the Rev H H Williams, and the remains were consigned to their last resting place. The military were unable to supply a firing party, but two buglers sounded the “Last Post” at the graveside, and thus a sad ceremony concluded. There was a large number of mourners, the chief amongst whom were the widow, the father and mother of the deceased, and many relatives, the majority of whom were from Bagillt. The procession which was a very long one included a number of discharged soldiers wearing the military badge, and other soldiers in khaki home on leave in the Borough. A few pretty floral tributes were placed upon the grave; and the sympathies of the people of Flint and Bagillt were extended to the bereaved family in their grief.

He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal and is remembered on the Flint Town war memorial and is also commemorated on the North Wales Heroes’ Memorial Arch, Bangor.

His daughter, Margaret Amy, died in November, 1920, aged 6, and was buried with him.

His wife Margaret re-married in 1921 to Nicholas Commins (1895-1967) and they had four sons – Thomas, Arnold, Llewelyn and Nicholas, who served with the Royal Navy in WW2 and was killed in action on the 22nd August 1944 aged 20. She lived at 41, Queens Avenue where she died on 1st April, 1947 aged 53. She is buried in the Old London Road Cemetery Flint with husband Nicholas.

John died in 1928, aged 74, and Amy died in 1949, aged 89, but it is not known where they were buried.

IN MEMORIUM

The cold, cold hand of cruel death
Upon this young life fell,
No more on earth will we hear again
The voice we loved so well.

Sad and lonely is our dwelling,
Lonely is our home to-day,
For the one we loved so dearly
Has forever passed away.

A little thought when you said ‘good-bye,’
It would be the last parting between you and I;
I loved you in life, you are dear to me still,
But in this bitter grief I must bend to God’s Holy Will.

Sadly missed by his loving Wife and two Children.
12, Upper Queen Street, Flint.
(County Herald 24th January, 1919)

One year has passed since that sad day,
When the one we loved was called away,
If we could have raised his dying head,
Or heard his last farewell,
The blow would not have been so hard
To those who loved him well.

Sadly missed by all – Father, Mother, Brothers and Sisters.
John and Amy Thomas,
3, Cambrian Terrace, Bagillt.
(County Herald 24th January, 1919)

Two years have passed since that sad day,
When my dear husband was called away.

There is a link death cannot sever,
Love and remembrance live forever.

From Wife and two Children.
12, Upper Queen Street, Flint.
(County Herald 9th January, 1920)

Two years have gone since that sad day,
When he we loved was called away,
But though the time is fleeting past,
Our love for him will ever last.

Gone but not forgotten.

Sadly missed by Father, Mother, Brothers and Sisters.
Cambrian Terrace, Station Road, Bagillt.
(County Herald 16th January, 1920)

Oft we speak and think of you, dear son,
And think of how you died.
To think we could not say good-bye
Before you passed away.
We shall sleep, but not forever,
There will be a glorious dawn;
We shall meet, to part, no, never,
On the Resurrection Morn.
Rest in Peace.

Sadly missed by Father, Mother, Brothers and Sisters, at 3, Cambrian Terrace, Station Road, Bagillt.
(County Herald 28th January, 1921)