Ancestry of private richard thomas. Service no 1309 in ww1

[Graham72]

I am researching one of my ancestors, Richard Thomas,who served as a private in the 1/6th Battalion of the RWF in WW1. His service number was 1309, and I know that he was posted to Rushden in Northamptonshire in 1915, prior to being sent to the Dardenelles in that year. I know he was in Cairo in early 1916 suffering from Frostbite and Rheumatism, as he wrote to one of my relatives at that time. he survived the war and married one of my aunts and settled in Rushden until his death in the 1950's. I are unable though to track his service record as it was apparently destroyed in WW2, and as such, we are unable to trace his history prior to his enlistment I would be grateful if anyone could offer any more information in relation to him or the Battalion whilst stationed in Rushden. Thanks in advance

[Hywyn]

Hi Graham

Richard Thomas of Ty Newydd, Llanrug. I'll compile something and post it later on today.

Hywyn

[Hywyn]

Do you have access to Ancestry Graham?

[LarsA]

I have this in my notes, much of the information comes from Hywyn:


Pte 1309 & 265355 Richard Thomas, 1/6th RWF


1/6th (Carnarvonshire and Anglesey) served in the 158th Brigade, 53rd Division.
53rd Welsh division landed at Gallipoli 9/8/1915. (Entry date on MIC 8/8/1915). The battalions had heavy casualties during the landing, not least at Scimitar Hill
After Gallipoli, they saw action in Egypt and Palestine. On 3 August 1918 1/5th bn was amalgamated with 1/6th Bn to form the 5/6th Bn.

Thomas was disembodied 7/3/1919.

New info:
Pte 1309 & 265355 Richard Thomas, 1/6th Royal Welsh Fusiliers, later 5/6th

Caernarfon Herald dated 20/4/1917 has a list of wounded RWF men. It includes 1309 R Thomas, Llanrug.

A Times RWF casualty list dated 17th April 1917 has 1309 R Thomas, Llanrug as wounded.

Medal Card: Pte 1309 Richard Thomas later 265355. To Gallipoli 8/8/1915. Demob 7/3/1919
Medal Roll: 6th Bn and 5th 6th Bn

Nil in Service or Pension Records on these numbers.


AVL: Richard Thomas, Ty Newydd, Llanrug. 266 355 RWF 1st 6th .
This number 266355 is allocated to another and I believe it is a typo for 265355.

His brother:

War Office Weekly Casualty list (RWF) dated 22/5/1918has 203392 R Thomas, Llanrug as wounded.
AVL: Robert Thomas, Ty Newydd. 203392 in 4th RWF.

Medal Card: Pte 2881 Robert Thomas later 12792 and then 203392, all RWF. Victory and British.

(I interpret this as enlisted in 6th RWF as 2881, on or about 23rd Nov 1914, and served in UK and then sent to France where he was transferred to 4th Battalion as 12792 and renumbered 203392 when they were all renumbered early 1917.)

Nil on these numbers in Service or Pensions.



I have Richard Thomas medals in my collection.

ATB

Lars

[Graham72]

Hello Hywyn.
Many thanks for your reply. I have also received a reply from a Lars with a great deal of additional information concerning my uncle. He also says he has his medals in his collection, which were stolen from my fathers house in the early 1960's along with other memorabilia. I do have access to Ancestry, but have not been able to trace my uncle due to the fact that we had no idea of his birth place. With the additional information supplied by Lars I might be able to trace his family line. Once again, many thanks.
Graham

[Graham72]

Good afternoon Lars
Many thanks for your reply and the detail you have supplied. I am really grateful for the additional information,including the photos of his medals, which were unfortunately stolen in the early 1960's in a break in at my fathers house along with other memorabilia, none of which were ever recovered or the culprits caught, and at the time deeply affected him. I know it was his wish that they would have been available to pass on to other generations, but this was not to be. Should you need to split up your collection in the future I would be grateful if you would give me first refusal on them so that they can be retained by the family. I would hope however that I will be able to trace his family tree with the wealth of information you have supplied. Thanks again. Graham

[LarsA]

You will have the first option - as soon as I find another 1/6th trio for my collection, as this is the only such group I have. Hopefully I will have a replacement quite soon and we can make this group come back to the family. Please PM me your postal and email adress so we won't lose touch and can continue our discussion on the returning of the medals. Would you possibly have a photo of Richard? I'll send you high resolve pictures of the medals also.

Kind regards,

Lars

[Hywyn]

Hi Graham

In 1918/1919 he is shown as of Ty Newydd, Llanrug on an Absent Voters list. Also shown to Ty Newydd but not placed together on the list is the above Robert. Bear in mind then that it is an assumption by me that they are brothers and not a fact from another source. It is feasable for there to be another Ty Newydd address in the parish, also occupied by a Thomas.

Having said this I'm struggling to put any Thomas to a Ty Newydd in the parish in the 1911 (it's a Pritchard family then) and also struggling to put a Richard, sibling Robert to the parish.

I have the mounumental inscription book for the parish church and there are no Thomas to that address (there is also a 'council' cemetery but I haven't got it's MIs.)

The local papers carried quite a bit about men from the area early on in the war. Men were reported as enlisted, home on leave, receiving bibles etc. I'm struggling for a positive mention of these two. They could be mentioned of course but I cannot make the positive link (numbers are seldom given) In fact, for the Gallipoli campaign one paper names 14 men from Llanrug who were there with 1st 6th Bn. Richard Thomas is not amongst them. Given the 'local' Caernarfonshire/Anglesey links of 6th Bn (not so much later on in war though) it's fair to assume he/they are from that catchment area.

I'm given to understand that the Rushden Echo contained quite a bit about the 'Welsh Div' troops billeted with the locals in 1915 prior to embarking for Gallipoli. You might have some luck with another N Wales address from that. I note you say he wrote to a realtive of yours in 1916. Am I right in thinking they were Rushden based relatives?

Failing everything possibly his marriage certificate will give his father's name thus opening possibilities of linking all three in the 1911 census?

Hywyn

[Graham72]

Hi Hywyn
Many thanks for your reply. I have sent a private message to you, but am having some difficulty navigating this site to know whether you did receive it. Hope you did. Please advise if you did not.
Many Thanks
Graham

[Graham72]

Ho Lars.
Thanks for your reply. I did send yesterday a private message to you, but am having difficulty navigating this site to know as to whether you did receive it. Please advise if you did not.
Kind regards
Graham