Thomas was born in Motherwell, Scotland and first appeared in the 1901 census age 6, living at 4, Harrison Street, Stayleybridge (Cheshire),  with his family. His father was Edwin Strefford,  33, a Shearer at the local Ironworks who had been born in  Pontesbury Shropshire.  His mother was Mary A  36  who was originally from Birmingham Warwickshire.Thomas’s brothers were George 12 , William 10, Samuel 8 and John  4  who, like him, were all born in Scotland. The youngest son Frank, aged 1 had been born in Stalybridge Cheshire.

By the 1911 census they were all living at Violet Cottage, Queensferry, and had a few additions to the family. The only sister Millicent  9 had been born in Chester. Edwin 7 and Alfred 6 had  both been born in Queensferry. They had a Niece, Anne Isabell Taylor living there as a domestic. She was 20 and  had been born in Boatridge, Lanarkshire. Thomas was 16 but there was no recorded trade or profession for him.

UK Soldiers who Died in The Great War 1914 -19 accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk confirms the regimental details above. It ads that he enlisted in Shotton. This source tells us he Died of Wounds on 15th November 1918.

Thomas Strefford in the UK, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 tells us that the sole Legatee was his father Edwin who was paid £5. 12s 8d , which included his War Gratuity of £5 on the 8th October 1919

There is an Index Card for Thomas in the Flintshire Roll of Honour at the County Record Office in Hawarden.  It confirms the regimental details above and it tells us that he served for 7 months. The address on the card is 68 Jubilee Street Shotton. The details about the death date are confusing. The card says he died of wounds 3rd August General Hospital Abbeville, France but than adds 15th November 1918. The card was signed by E Strefford on 18th January 1920

Thomas was one of 6 Brothers who all went into the Great War, but Thomas was the only one who died.   One of his brothers, William, was torpedoed on Cameronia* April 15th 1917. and ran aground June 1917 H.M.T. Chachdara? in Gulf of Suez and served in the East & India.   . (I have details of the Flintshire WW1 Index Cards for the others and other information I have been able to find on brother John and the family.)

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Cameronia_%281911%29  and http://www.rmslusitania.info/related-ships/cameronia/  for further details.

Thomas is remembered on 2 other memorials, one on the Queensferry School Roll of Honour in the Queensferry War Memorial Institute and also on the Hawarden War Memorial.