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Thomas, Joseph

Joseph Thomas was my late husband John’s Great Uncle, but I do not know about his early life.  Some photographs have come to light from his family, so thanks to Cousin Sancia for passing these on to be added to Thomas’s page. He will be remembered better with these additions.

Samuel Thomas and Catherine Davison, Joseph Thomas’s parents, had been married in the Parish Church of St. Mary in Chester on the 28th December 1886 (No 481). The marriage details were recorded as follows.  Samuel,  23,  was a Bachelor and Labourer. His abode was Saltney. His father was William Thomas, a Joiner.   Catherine Davison was 19, a Spinster with no occupation. Her abode was Saltney.  Her father was  Henry Davison, a Brewer.   They married after Banns.   The witnesses were Annie Thomas & Joseph Catherall.

The 1901 census records  Joseph and his family living in Ewloe.  Head of the household, Samuel Thomas was  39 and a Carter for the Brewery. wHe had been born in Gresford.  The Mother was Catherine A. Thomas, 36 who had been born in Hawarden..  The listed children were William H.  14, Martha A.  9,  Catherine  7,  Joseph  4 and  Mary 1. They had all been born in Hawarden.

The family had moved to Dee View, Hawarden  by the time of the 1911 census.   Samuel, 50 was a General Labourer.  His wife of 24 years, Catherine was 47. Eight  children had been born to them, but 1 child had died.  The listed children were  William Henry, 24,  a Bricklayer’s Labourer.   Martha Ann, 20  and Catherine 16 were both Domestic Servants.  Joseph, 14, Mary 11 and Annie 8 were at school.  Baby Elizabeth was 1.

UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk  confirms Joseph’s regimental information above and tells us that he enlisted in Shotton. His medal card also on ‘Ancestry details his medals.

There is an index card for Joseph in the Flintshire Roll of Honour at The County Record Office in Hawarden. (Card Hawarden F31) gives the address  Dee View Hawarden.  His period of Service  was 1 year 11 months and the card was signed by his father Samuel Thomas on the 14th October 1919, who wrote the date of Joseph’s death as the 12th January.

Joseph is commemorated on a family gravestone in the churchyard of St Deniol’s Church Hawarden.
The inscription reads ..

IN LOVING MEMORY OF/ Pte JOSEPH THOMAS,/ BATT. R.W.F. BELOVED SON OF/ SAMUEL & CATHERINE THOMAS,/ WHO WAS KILLED IN FRANCE/ JAN. 13, 1917, AGED 20 YEARS./ “I HAVE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT.”/ ALSO CATHERINE ANN THOMAS/ MOTHER OF THE ABOVE/ DIED JUNE 15, 1938/ AGED 69 YEARS./ ALSO SAMUEL THOMAS,/ HUSBAND & FATHER OF ABOVE/ DIED DEC. 10, 1947/ AGED 84 YEARS./ THY WILL BE DONE.

Imperial War Museum – Memorial Project – http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/36496
HIGHWAY METHODIST CHURCH
The Highway
Ewloe
Alyn And Deeside
Clwyd
Wales
Inscription
IN MEMORY OF/ PTE JOSEPH THOMAS/ WHO FELL IN THE/ GREAT WAR./ 1914 – 1918.

NB Joseph’s death date is different on 3 sources. He died on either the 11th, 12th or 13th of January 1917. The military sources all say the 11th.

 


Learn more about the other soldiers on the Hawarden Memorial

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