Jacob is also on the Sandycroft War Memorial in St. Francis’s Church, Sandycroft and  also named on the Mostyn Memorial. 

Jacob was born in Marsh Row, Whitford, Mostyn, Flintshire on the 26th August 1876. His parents were Jacob and Anne Thomas. (Thanks to Ancestry BJLovell45) There is a possible marriage of a Jacob Thomas & Anne Jones in a Civil Ceremony at Holywell in 1868 (HOL/07/E151)

The 1881 census records Jacob living with his family at Marsh Row, Whitford.  Anne, 35 was a widow.  Her  listed children were  Louisa, 9, Jacob, 4  Ann, 2,   There was a Boarder, John Foulkes, 42, a Ship Carpenter.

The 1891 census shows the family living at Chapel Walks, Mostyn, Whitford, Holywell Union. Widow Anne Thomas, 47, was head of the household and a Charwoman.   Jacob, 14 was a Labourer in the Ironworks and George, 8 was a scholar.  (The 3 spoke only Welsh.)

I cannot find Jacob on the 1901 or the 1911 censuses, but on the 1st of October 1904 at St. Ethelwold’s Church in Shotton, Jacob Thomas, 29, a Bachelor and Labourer, whose abode was Toxteth, Liverpool and whose father was Jacob Thomas, Sailor, married Margaret Humphreys, 29, Spinster, abode, Shotton, Father Edward Humphreys, Furnaceman, after Banns.( Page 6 , No. 11) Witnessed by William & Fanny Humphreys.   He may have been in the Liverpool area during those years, but cannot find him at all.

He is mentioned in the book “Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 – 18.   Royal Welsh Fusiliers   Part 28”, which also tells us that he enlisted in Shotton and was killed in France on the 25th September 1915 – At least 13 Local men died on this day from the 9th Bn.   (For much more information on this terrible day, please go to http://www.1914-1918.net/bat13.htm to see lots of information on the Battle of Loos, 25th September – 18th October 1915.)

His medal card accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk British Army details his medals and tells us that his first Theatre of War was France and he entered it on the 14th July 1915.  He was Killed in Action a little over 2 months later on the 25th September 1915.

There is an index card for Jacob Thomas in the Flintshire Roll of Honour in the County Record office at Hawarden. (Card F 23 Queensferry). The address given is  Parry’s Row, Pentre and he was in the army almost exactly 1 year.   His card was signed by Margaret Thomas, his wife on the 27th November 1919.

Thanks to Bill Tyrell, who allowed me access to the Minutes of the the Conservative Club Shotton where in a meeting on the 9th October 1916 the committee voted to give financial help to sixteen widows of the area. Mrs. Thomas, Pentre was one of those widows, they were each given 5/-. Please click on the link to read the names of the others who were mentioned in the minutes.

I received the following e mail from Jacob Thomas’s grandson, Dave Thomas

Hi Mavis

The information you have on my grandfather is correct, he was born in Mostyn , married my grandmother Margaret Humphreys in 1904 at St Ethelwolds Church Shotton and went on to have 5 children, your research is correct that he was killed in action on the 25th September 1915, although his name is not on Connahs Quay cenotaph, you will find it on Hawarden cenotaph.

I would be interested if you have any photo’s of him or his regiment, I’ve attached a copy of his regiment’s war diary leading up to the 25th of Sept.  Please don’t hesitate to contact me for any more information.

Regards

Dave Thomas

Many thanks to Dave Thomas for his help with his Grandfather’s story.

Addendum – If you would like a copy of the War Diaries for the 9th Bn R.W.F. please contact the website or they can be seen on Ancestry.co.uk.