Thomas Charlesworth 32 Brigade 1915
Thomas was serving as an Acting Bombardier 21420 of the Royal Field Artillery when he disembarked for service in France on 12th July 1915.
Bombardier was an appointment equivalent to corporal in the Infantry and meant he could wear a single chevron stripe on his sleeve. He had only been appointed on an acting basis but appears to have remained as such until March 1916 (see below)
In order to try and determine more about Thomas service we looked for records of men numbered near to 21420 in the hope that they would provide clues regarding his enlistment and training. We were conscious of the fact that although "Soldiers Died" said he enlisted in Sheffield, the "Times" casualty list suggested he had done so in Warrington.
This search revealed without doubt that Thomas was numbered on 2 or 3rd September 1914. Every man we found near to him had joined in the Manchester area, which tends to support the Warrington stated by the "Times"
The men joining at this time accepted "short service" terms which required them to serve for the duration of the War. Clearly Thomas had falsified his age for even in September 1914 he was still only 17 years of age and the acceptable minimum was 18.
His intake was sent to begin training with 25 reserve Battery which was under command of 5A Reserve Brigade RFA at Athlone in Ireland. It appears probable that Thomas completed training with this unit before joining a draft for France.
Service in France and Flanders.
Thomas is stated to have been serving with 134 Battery of 32 Brigade RFA when he died in October 1917.
This unit had arrived in France in August 1914. The various notes made in the letter which was donated to the Royal Artillery Museum fit well with the history of this unit and it would appear likely that Thomas served with it from shortly after his arrival in france until his Death in October 1917.
Later in our report we have given an outline of the movements and history of the Brigade and we have noted the points of reference in his letter. It is reasonable to assume that Thomas moved with it and took part in its engagements. The loss of his service records sadly means that small specific details such as short periods away for treatment of illnesses or minor wounds or injuries are now unknown.
Thomas reverted to his original rank on 14th March 1916. This would appear to be at his own request as outlined in his letter, although he suggested he would become a Driver and his rank actually became Gunner. The two are legally equivalent but would be differentiated by his role in his Battery.
The Brigade War Diary states that in October 1917 the Battery experienced severe conditions, being in open pits with camouflage (probably netting or canvas) covering them. The supply routes to the Batteries were under constant shell fire and it rained incessantly. On the 14th October 1917 the Brigade Commander Colonel N.E Tilney DSO was wounded and casualties were otherwise heavy. ten days previously the the Batteries had moved into new positions in the Ypres sector:
We cannot be certain exactly when Thomas sustained his Mortal wound but it is likely to have been on 13 or 14th October. The fact he is buried at Solferino Farm tells us that he died either on his way to a medical unit in the area, or perhaps at one of the Advanced Dressing stations clustered along the Ypres canal.
According to CWGC "Solferino Farm was given its name by French troops who held this part of the line early in 1915. The cemetery which is opposite the site of the farm was begun by Commonwealth forces in October 1917 and was used by the units fighting in this sector until August 1918.
A War office telegram would have advised the family that Thomas was dead, soon after the event. his effects left with he Battery transport when the men went into action together with cash and outstanding pay would then have been sent to his home.
Thomas,s Medals would have been sent to his family after the war, it was not necessary to claim them. The british War Medal was for leaving his native shore and the Victory Medal for service in a theatre of War and were dispatched in 1921; his Star would have been sent in 1919.
The following is a letter Thomas sent to his Father
Dear Father, just a line or two, this is about the first letter I have written to you as you will notice it is posted in England, was given to a chap going home on leave... we are in rest have just come from Ypres after having been in that region for about 7 months....I had a row with the Sergeant Major, said I did not make prisoners so went and seen the Colonel and gave up the stripe.
we believe this puts the letter into late March 1916. Thomas was reverted on 14th March, he had been in France for eight months by this time, all of which had been spent in the Ypres sector.