Thomas was born in 1896 and was the son of James and Sydney Wilcock. In 1901 this family lived in Pentre Bridge, Northop Hall where James, the father was a ‘hewer of coal’. There were six children at that time Jane 12, James 9, John 7, Thomas 5, Isabella 3 and Hannah 1. Two years later, another boy was born who was named Samuel. We have some lovely family photographs of these siblings below.

The 1911 census records the family living at Fern Bank, Northop Hall. The head of the household was Mrs Wilcock a 48 year old widow. Her listed children at home were James19, John 17 and Thomas 15 all three worked in the coal mine. Isabella 13, Hannah 11 and Samuel 8 were all at school. the eldest child, Jane, was no longer at home.

Thomas signed up for the Territorials on 7th December 1915 when he was 19. The family was living in  2 Fern Bank Northop Hall.  He was part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force between 27th June 1916 to the 5th September 1916 when he was sent home sick. On the 14th September 1916 he was declared to be permanently unfit by a Medical Board at 3rd London General Hospital Wandsworth. He had TB and they pronounced that in their opinion there was a “total inability to earn a livlihood at present.”  Five months later he was dead. It is believed by members of the family, that he died at home.

Thomas’s elder brother, John (Jack)  also served in the army. The 1911 census tells us he was a ‘Pony Driver’ at the coal mine.  He enlisted in the Royal Garrison Artillery in December 1917. He survived the war.

Many grateful thanks to Thomas’s nephew, James Catherall for contacting us with details of his uncle’s sad story and for sharing these lovely old family photographs with us.

Thomas Wilcock also appears on the Connahs Quay Memorial follow the link.