Contribute
Advanced search
The information displayed here is at the time of death.
Thomas Ward, son of Master Mariner, Thomas, and Bessie Ward (nee Elizabeth Inkster), was born in the Shetland Isles on 23rd June 1889. The family moved to South Shields shortly after, and Thomas was educated South Shields High School from 1901 to 1904.
On leaving school he trained to be a teacher at Armstrong College, and returned to teach at Westoe Secondary School, South Shields.
Thomas joined the Northumberland Fusiliers, 23rd Battalion (Tyneside Scottish), as a Lieutenant on the 6th January 1915. He was attached to the 29th Battalion (reserves) on 3rd September 1915. He was made Temporary Captain from 6th March to 16th May 1916 while he was Brigade Signalling Officer.
Thomas was killed in the Battle of the Somme by a rifle grenade on 11th June 1916 aged 25.
Thomas is buried in Becourt Military Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, Somme, France.
Thomas is also commemorated on a plaque remembering pupils of Westoe Secondary School (now installed in Harton Technology College).
UK Census registers, National Archives (available via Ancestry.co.uk)
UK Military Service Records, National Archives (available via Ancestry.co.uk)
Newcastle University Archives (Roll of Service, Armstrong College Calendars, The Northerner Student Magazine)
North East War Memorials Project
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Stewart and Sheen (1999) Tyneside Scottish....
Sophie Anderton, Amy Shiel, Ian Johnson, Rosie Setford.