Military History

Thomas is listed as being killed in action on 31 Mar 1918. The battalion war diary for the 30th & 31st March are transcribed below:

1918 March 30th: Dull day, sky overcast, very quiet on the whole. Hostile artillery chiefly confined to back areas. Enemy exposes himself a great deal during the day. Lt Col Karslake G.S.O. 14th Division goes around the line during the morning.

At 5pm orders are received that the battalion is to push on during the night & occupy Indian & Iceland trenches and take up a position H.22.a.7.2 - H.28.a.6.0 - H.27.d.0.0. O.O (Operational Orders) attached. Zero hour 3.30am. Very wet night indeed. Lieut A.C. Giles accidentatlluy wounded.

1918 March 31st: There is no artillery barrage, the Gunners only "stand by" in case of SOS. A, C & D Coys all reach their objectives by B Coy held by heavy M.G. fire from Gunpits in H.27.d. They have to withdraw causing D Coy to come back also to its original line. A & C Coys both hold their objectives but the right flank of the latter Coy [C] is very dangerous. They are rifle grenaded by the enemy & at about 8am are compelled to ciome back along the southern side of the Railway and take up a position in their original line, keeping in touch with A Coy on its left.

Our casualties are 2nd Lt L.J.Preedy killed, Lt C.J. Gittings; 2nd Lt P.M. Carpendale wounded and about 25 O.R. killed & wounded. [NB. The official casualty count in the War Diary Statement of  Casualties is: Officers - 1 killed and 5 Wounded. Other Ranks: 2 killed and 27 wounded

Weather improves during the day & the sun comes out. There is a considerable amount of shelling (5.9's & 4.2's) round Battalion HQ in Railway Cutting during the day. B Coy who are in support in Battery Valley relieve C Coy. Wet night.