William John Thomas was born circa 1882 in Penclawd Glamorgan.
William John Thomas is recorded on the 1911 census living at 14 Butler Street Shotton. The form tells us he was 29 years old and had been born in Penclawd, Glamorganshire. He was an ironworker. He had married Maggie 2 years earlier. She was 25 and originally from Morriston in Glamorganshire. They had a 1 month old baby son, Stanley Vinson who had been born in Shotton. There were 2 visitors, a Mrs Peregrine 49 born in Morriston, Glam and Idris Pergrine 13, born in Ammanford, Camarthenshire. It is likely that these visitors were Maggie’s mother and brother.
Margaret Peregrine and William John Thomas had married in 1909 in Llandilofawr Camarthanshire (Qtr March 1909 Vol 11a page 1506)
UK Soldiers who Died in the Great War 1914 -19 accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk confirms all the regimental details above and adds that he enlisted in Shotton. This source tells us that he ‘died’ (as opposed to being ‘Killed in Action’ or ‘died of wounds’)..
His medal card includes the rank Lance Corporal as well as Private but this does not appear anywhere else. It tells us that his first Theatre of War was The Balkans which he entered on the 28th June 1915 so he served in Gallipoli.
William John Thomas in the UK, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 tells us that the sole Legatee was his widow Margaret who was paid £2. 2s 1d on the 30th January 1917 and his War Gratuity of £8. 10s 0d on the 17th September 1919. There was a recharge of £1. 2s 8d to the Regimental Paymaster on the 20th December 1916.
There is an index card for William John in the Flintshire Roll of Honour at the County Record office in Hawarden. the address is given as 14, Butler Street, Shotton. His period of Service was from 29th August 1914 to 11th July 1916. The card was signed by his Brother, David George Thomas.
His Commonwealth War Graves Commission Certificate tells us his father was John Thomas of Ammanford. and that Maggie’s address after the war was 32 New Road Ammanford.
William John Thomas is also remembered on the Memorial Screen at St. Ethelwolds Church, Shotton..
In the County Herald dated 8th September 1916 (Page 2) among the list of Casualties of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers was (Died) Thomas, W. 12691 (Shotton).
Any help would be appreciated.
Carolyn Chodecka contacted the website on Sunday the 26th of January 2025 and gave more information on William John Thomas, many thanks to her.
Hello Mavis
Thank you so much for getting back to me – our soldiers really do need to be remembered and their stories told and recorded. I hope you find the information I have found on William John Thomas useful. As I do not speak Welsh I ran the two poems below dedicated to him through google translate so the translations might need fine-tuning!
I sincerely hope I have been of help to you.
Very best wishes
Carolyn
CWGC – Graves Registration Report Form
CWGC – Panel List
https://newspapers.library.wales/view/4013472/4013474/13/William%2BOR%2BJohn%2BOR%2BThomas
The Amman Valley Chronicle and East Carmarthen News
Thursday, 24th August 1916
BARDDONIAETH
ER COF
Am William John Thomas, o Shotton, gynt o Bantyffynnon, a fu farw o’r dwymyn yn Mesopotamia.
Mor brudd oedd y newydd a ges dros y don
Am farw ein gwron, fy hoff William John;
Yr hwn rodd ei fywyd yn aberth i’w wlad,
Ar dorri calonnau mae’i briod a’i dad.
Gadawodd ei henwlad, a’i obaith yn Nuw,
Y cawsai ddychwelyd yn ol eto’ n fyw;
Nid felly oedd trefniant arfaeth ei Dad,
Ond beddrod a gafodd mewn estronol wlad.
Mawr hiraeth sydd arnaf ‘rol colli fy mrawd,
Am na chaf ei weled ef mwy yn y cnawd;
Fy ngobaith, er hynny, cawn gwrdd’r ochor draw,
Gael ymgom a’n gilydd, a chydysgwyd lIaw.
Mae Stanley yn holi ei fam mewn tristad,
“O dwedwch i mi, pa le mae fy nhad?”
A hithau’n ei ateb, “Mae’th dad yn y nef;
Fe wnawn ninnau’ n goreu i fynd ato ef.”
Fe hoffech ei weled cyn croesi y glyn,
Gael gair bach o’i enau, boddlonech ar hyn,
A rhoddi dyferyn o ddwr ar ei fin;
Cyfrifech y fraint, ond ni chawsoch yr un.
Os duon gymylau sy’n hongian uwch-ben,
Na chollwch eich golwg ar Dywysog y nen;
Efe sydd yn achub, fe’ ch ceidw bob un,
A’ch dwyn yn y diwedd i’w fynwes ei Hun.
Hen fyd y gofidiau a’r helbul yw hwn,
Mae rhywrai barhaus dan ei orthrwm a’i bwn;
Ond na ddigalonwch, eich cysur chwi yw
Fod Tad yr amddifaid a’ r gweddwon yn fyw.
JOSEPH WATERS.
Rhydaman.
POETRY
IN MEMORY
Of William John Thomas, of Shotton, formerly of Pantyffynnon, who died of fever in Mesopotamia.
How bitter was the news I received over the wave
For the death of our crown, my beloved William John;
Who gave his life as a sacrifice for his country,
His wife and father are heartbroken.
He left his homeland, and his hope in God,
That he was allowed to return again alive;
His father’s intended arrangement was not like that,
But he got a tomb in a foreign land.
I have a great longing for losing my brother,
Because I will not see him in the flesh anymore;
My hope, though, we’ll meet on the other side,
Have a conversation with each other, and shake hands.
Stanley asks his mother in sorrow,
“Oh tell me, where is my father?”
And she answered him, “Your father is in heaven;
We’ll do our best to go to him.”
You would like to see it before crossing the glen,
Get a little word from his mouth, be satisfied with this,
And put a drop of water on its edge;
You counted the privilege, but you got none.
If black clouds hang overhead,
Do not lose sight of the Prince of the sky;
He saves, he will keep you all,
And bring you in the end to His own bosom.
This is the old world of sorrows and troubles,
Someone is constantly under his oppression and punishment;
But do not despair, it is your comfort
That the Father of the orphans and the widows is alive.
JOSEPH WATERS.
Ammanford.
https://newspapers.library.wales/view/4013577/4013579/19/Shotton
The Amman Valley Chronicle and East Carmarthen News
Thursday, 7th December 1916
ODLAU HIRAETH
Ar ol Priv. W. J. Thomas, annwyl briod Mrs. Maggie Thomas, 32, New Road, Ammanford (gynt o Shotton) yr hwn a fu farw ym Mesopotamia, Gorffennaf 11, 1916, yn 33 mlwydd oed.
“In the field of battle, he bravely took his place;
He fought and died for England, and the honour of his race.”
Gorffwys ar yr helyg, delyn,
Gorffwys gyda’th dannau’ n brudd;
Rhaid bod heddyw heb yr emyn,
0 dan loes y frwydyr gudd:
Cilia salmau bywyd dedwydd
Gan y “llythyr” gryna’n lIaw;
Nos i’ n calon yw y newydd
Ddaeth o byrth y Dwyrain draw.
Ddoe y fam a’i bachgen bychan
Chwifient eu cadachau gwyn,
Pan y cefnai milwr diddan
Draw o ‘i gartref ar y bryn:
Aeth i’ r frwydyr gyda’ r dewrion,
Dros iawnderau, dros ei wlad;
Heddyw gruddiau’r fam sy’n wlybion,
A’r un bychan heb ei dad.
Clywodd atsain traed y gelyn
Yn dynesu at ei wlad;
Ac yn rhengoedd “Gwiad y Delyn”
Allan aeth i faes y gad:
Gadael glannau Ynys Prydain
Wnaeth yn enw Brenin Nen;
Ac wrth farw yn y Dwyrain—
Cadwodd urddas Cymru Wen.
Bu yn dad a phriod hawddgar,
Siriol fel goleuni’r wawr;
Darn o’r nefoedd ar y ddaear
Oedd ei aelwyd glyd bob awr:
Nid oedd iasau oer, gaeafol,
Byth yn croesi’r dymer fwyn,
Tymer fel y gwanwyn siriol,
Lonnai’r galon dan ei swyn.
Canai ieuanc frwd obeithion
Yng nghysgodau llwyni’ r ardd,
Gorymdeithient fel angylion
I gyfeiriad bywyd hardd;
Cariad oedd yn gwylio beunydd,
Rhag pob brad, a loes a cham;
Byw yn heulwen bywyd dedwydd;
Dyma wynfa’r tad a’r fam.
Drwy ei oes a dwylo llafur,
Gweithio wnaeth wrth “Reol” nef;
Gwaith a bywyd oedd gyfystyr
Eiriau, yn ei hanes ef:
Yn ol nifer ein blynyddoedd,
Y mesura’r byd ein taith;
Ond fel arall mae y nefoedd-
Mesur oes wrth faint y gwaith.
Cadarn oedd mewn sefydlogrwydd,
Megis cedrwydden gref,
Sel ei fynwes dros ddyledswydd
Fflachiai fel cleddyfau’r nef:
Yr oedd hawliau ei gydwybod
Yn rhy sanctaidd yn ei fryd
I’w phwrcasu hi a sorod-
Hud a gwen a ffafr byd.
Mae adnodau ar ei feddrod,
Gemau disglair meddwl Duw;
Hwy oleuant nosau trallod,
Hwy arweiniant at y “Byw”:
Hen adnodau’r tywydd garw,
“Anchwiliadwy olud” drud;
Mor rhamantus ydyw marw-
Geni yw i loywach byd.
Deued haf a’i dyner flodau
I addurno’ i annwyl fedd;
Deued adar nef a’u hodlau,
Gyda’r blodau teg eu gwedd:
Deued engyl nef i wylio
Sanctaidd fedd y Cymro mad,
Ond na ddeued dydd anghofio
Un fu farw dros ei wlad.
D. TEGFAN DAVIES.
Rhydaman.
RHYMES
After Priv. W. J. Thomas, dear husband of Mrs. Maggie Thomas, 32, New Road, Ammanford (formerly of Shotton) who died in Mesopotamia, July 11, 1916, aged 33.
“In the field of battle, he bravely took his place;
He fought and died for England, and the honour of his race.”
Rest on the willow, harp,
Rest with your tender teeth;
Today must be without the hymn,
0 under the spell of the hidden brothers:
Cilia psalms of a happy life
By the “letter” I tremble well;
Night to our heart is the new
It came from the gates of the East over there.
Yesterday the mother and her little boy
They waved their white cloths,
When an amused soldier left
Across from his home on the hill:
He went to the brothers with the brave,
For rights, for his country;
Today the mother’s cheeks are wet,
And the little one without his father.
He heard the echo of the enemy’s footsteps
Approaching his country;
And in the ranks of “Gwiad y Delyn”
Out he went to the battlefield:
Leaving the shores of the British Isles
He did it in the name of the Sky King;
And dying in the East—
He preserved the dignity of White Wales.
He was an amiable father and husband,
Cheerful as the light of dawn;
A piece of heaven on earth
Was his hearth cozy every hour:
There was no cold, wintry chill,
Never cross the mild temper,
Temper like the cheerful spring,
The heart rejoiced under its spell.
A young man sang hopes
In the shadows of the garden’s bushes,
They marched like angels
Towards a beautiful life;
A love that watched every day,
From every betrayal, hurt and wrong;
Live in the sunshine of a happy life;
This is the whitewash of the father and mother.
Through his life and labouring hands,
He worked by the “Rule” of heaven;
Work and life were synonymous
Words, in his story:
According to the number of our years,
The world measures our journey;
But otherwise heaven is –
Measure life by the amount of work.
Sure was in stability,
Like a strong cedar,
The seal of his bosom for duty
They flashed like the swords of heaven:
It was the rights of his conscience
Too holy in his mind
To buy her and waste –
Magic and smiles and worldly favour.
There are verses on his tomb,
The brilliant games of God’s mind;
They light the nights of misery,
They lead to the “Live”:
Old weather verses,
“Inscrutable riches” expensive;
How romantic it is to die –
Birth is to a brighter world.
Come summer and its tender flowers
To decorate a dear grave;
Let the birds of heaven come with their songs,
With the fair-looking flowers:
Let the angel of heaven come to watch
Holy grave of the mad Welshman,
But let’s not forget
One died for his country.
D. TEGFAN DAVIES.
Ammanford.
https://newspapers.library.wales/view/4014222/4014225/19/32%2BOR%2BNew%2BOR%2BRoad%2BOR%2BAmmanford
The Amman Valley Chronicle and East Carmarthen News
Thursday, 20th February 1919
DISTRICT NEWS
AMMANFORD.
A very pretty wedding was solemnised at Llandebie Parish Church on Saturday last, the contracting parties being Miss Mary Jones, Penllwynhelyg, Llandebie, and Mr. Tommy Peregrine, son of Mr. William Peregrine, 32, New Road, Ammanford. The bride, who was attired in a navy blue costume and a silk biscuit hat, was given away by her father. The bridesmaid was Miss Agnes Jones (sister of bride), whilst the duties of best man were carried out by Mr. Idris Peregrine (brother of bridegroom). The nuptial knot was tied by the Rev. D. W. Thomas, M.A., vicar of Llandebie. After the ceremony a reception was held at the residence of the bride, and later in the day at the bridegroom’s home, when a goodly number of relatives and friends, including the Rev. D. Tegfan Davies, attended. The honeymoon was spent at Swansea. Numerous presents were received from well-wishers.
https://ww1.wales/carmarthenshire-memorials/ammanford-ww1-war-memorial/
Memorial Park Gates, Iscennen Road, Ammanford
Many thanks again to Carolyn.