Thomas Waters was born on 7 April 1891 in St Marys, Brecknock. He was the son of William Waters, a Sergeant in the South Wales Borderers, and his wife Emma.

Thomas grew up at his father’s military barracks until 1905, when he was sent to Gordon's Boys Home. According to the childrenshomes.org.uk website,

"The home operated along military lines, with drill and marching. Boys were called to parade, meals, and other activities by army-style bugle calls.

They were assigned military ranks and provided with a full kit, including uniform, boots, and underclothing. In addition to their school lessons, the boys were taught trades such as shoemaking, tailoring, carpentry, metalworking, saddlery, agricultural work, and baking."

Thomas left school in 1907 and joined the North Staffordshire Regiment as a Boy Soldier. His family still have a photo from this period with Thomas In his North Staffordshire Regiment uniform with his mother and siblings.

Unfortunately, in August 1908, after being found guilty of fare evasion on a Great Western Railway train, he was discharged from the army. By this time, Thomas’s father had completed his service, and the family had moved to Swansea. Thomas rejoined them there. In the 1911 census, he is listed as living with his parents at Ivy Cottage, High Street, Swansea, and working as a porter on the Great Western Railway.

In early 1914, Thomas married Lydia Harris in Swansea, but they were soon separated when Thomas volunteered to join the Royal Field Artillery in the early days of World War I. It is likely that he saw little of his new wife until he returned home in early 1919.

After the war, Thomas returned to his job at the Great Western Railway, and by the time of the 1921 census, he was working as a trackman in the Railway’s Engineering Department.

It appears that Thomas stayed with the Great Western Railway until 1938, when he joined the regular army once again.

During World War II, Thomas went to war for a second time. After the Dunkirk evacuation, he continued his service until he was finally discharged at the age of 50.

No further records have been found regarding Thomas’s life after his military service.

Thomas Waters was born into a military family and spent his early years living in the Brecknock Barracks of the South Wales Borderers. His father, William Waters, was a senior sergeant, and his 1944 obituary summarized his long and distinguished service:

South Wales Evening Post, 11 Jan 1944 (FMP)

Pre-War: Military School and Boy Soldier

Thomas left home in 1905 to attend Gordon’s Boys Home, a military school in Bagshot, Surrey, and left two years later in March 1907 to join the North Staffordshire Regiment as a Boy Soldier.

In May 1908, Thomas transferred to his father’s regiment, the South Wales Borderers. However, he was discharged just six weeks later after being arrested for fare evasion on the railway.

Great War: Gunner

With the outbreak of World War I, Thomas immediately volunteered to join the 1st Welsh (Howitzer) Brigade as a Gunner. After completing initial training, he joined the 1st Glamorgan Battery in Northampton. Unfortunately, his troubles with authority continued. In October 1914, he was court-martialled for theft and sentenced to 84 days of hard labour, which was later reduced to 42 days.

After serving his sentence, he rejoined the brigade and settled down. He spent time training in Cambridge and Bedford before the brigade received orders to move to France in November 1915. Due to a surplus of men, Gnr Waters was transferred to the 53rd Divisional Ammunition Column and travelled to France between 23rd and 25th November 1915.

While there are no records to confirm it, it is likely that Gnr Waters later travelled to Egypt in February 1916, where he served for the remainder of the war.

Thomas was discharged on 6 February 1919 and received a military pension for the long-term effects of dysentery. For his service, he was awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, and Victory Medal.

Inter-War: Territorial Soldier

In 1925, Thomas rejoined the Territorial Army, this time as a Sapper in the Royal Engineers. It appears he served in one of the Railway Companies, reflecting his civilian career. In 1938, he was awarded the Territorial Efficiency Medal and left the Territorial Army to join the Regular Army.

World War II: Sapper

When World War II broke out, Sapper Waters was mobilized for active duty. On 4 February 1940, he transferred to the 158th Railway Construction Company and was sent to France with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). His time in France was short-lived, and like 330,000 other men of the BEF, he was evacuated from Dunkirk in June 1940.

Sapper Thomas Waters finally left the army in May 1941 at the age of 50. For his service during World War II, he was awarded the 1939-45 Star, War Medal, and Defence Medal.