Personal Profile

945. A/Bdr. Thomas, David John

Acting Bombadier

Date of Birth: 18/4/1895 (GRAVE), Swansea (CENS)
Occupation: Checker (1920)
Employer: British Mannesman Tube Co Ltd (ROH)
Enlisted - Date: 3/9/1914
1908 Serv. No: 945
1917 Serv. No: 725308
Demobilised: 25/2/1919
Awards: 14/15. BWM. VIC. SWB.
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Personal Details

WORKING NOTES

Born 18/4/1895, Swansea. Parents - Thomas & Mary Ann. Known as Dai

1901 - 1357 Neath Rd. 6yo. W parents & older brother Harry. Father Foreman Coal Shipper

1910 - Attended Swansea Municipal School, left 1910 (ROH)

1911 - 1357 Neath Rd, Swansea. 15yo. Occ-Office boy. W parents & 2 siblings

1920 - Married Gwennie Marion Williams, 1/9/1920, Holy Trinity, Swansea. Add-1357 Neath Rd, Hafod (same as PENS). Occ-Checker. Father Thomas Thomas (decd) Coal Merchant.

1921 - 37 Alexandra Rd, Swansea. 26y2m. Occ-Checker in Tube Steel Warehouse - British Mannesman Tube Co Ltd, Tube Manufacturer out of work. W Gwennie

1922 - Story taken up by a descendant in South Africa: They sailed from Southampton to Cape Town, South Africa on the "Walmer Castle" on 13 January 1922, setting in Johannesburg. David's (known as Dai) occupation was Transport Bus Inspector, Tramways, with the Johannesburg Municipality. David and Gwennie lived with her brother, Arthur Francis Williams at 86 Fraser Street, Turffontein, Johannesburg.

1951 - David passed away on 1 December 1951 and the cause of death was: Multiple Injuries - duration 1 day. Died at the Johannesburg Hospital. He was knocked down by a vehicle on 30th November 1951.

Died 1/12/1951 Johannesburg. In loving memory of David John beloved husband of Gwennie Marian Thomas born Swansea (South Wales) April 18th 1895 Died Dec 1st 1951. To a full life came a sudden end, he died as he lived, everyone's friend. W Gwennie Marian died 1955

Address:
1357 Neath Rd Hafod
Swansea (Pens)

Military Service

No serv record. Brother of 93, Harry Thomas

Enlisted 3/9/14. In photo of recruits Nov 1914 as Driver

France w Brigade Nov 1915

Final until C/265 (final name of 1st Battery). Reasonable to assume he served with them throughout (inc Egypt).

Demobilised 25/2/1919 as Bdr. SWB, Dysentry

Date Entered Theatre (MIC): 21/11/1915
First Theatre (MIC): (1) France
Discharged - Reason: Para 392 (XVI) KR. Sick 392 (XVIA).
Disabilities (Pens): Dysentry
Final Unit: C/265 Bde. (SWB)
Sources: (ROLL)(MIC)(SWB)(PENS)

Explanation Of Abbreviations

Awards

  • 14/15 – 1914/15 Star
  • BWM – British War Medal
  • VIC – Victory Medal
  • SWB – Silver War Badge
  • TFEM – Territorial Force (1908-1921)
  • TEM – Territorial Efficiency Medal (1921-1930)
  • TFWM – Territorial Force War Medal

Gallantry

  • MID – Mention In Dispatches
  • LG – London Gazette
  • MM – Military Medal
  • DCM – Distinguished Conduct Medal

Sources

  • ROLL – Medal Roll for British War Medal and Victory Medal (Ancestry.co.uk)
  • MIC – Medal Index Cards (Ancestry.co.uk)
  • SR – Service Record (Ancestry.co.uk)
  • SR-F – Service Record (FindMyPast.co.uk)
  • SR-NA – Service Record (National Archives) – officers
  • COMM – Commission letters (National Library of Wales)
  • SWB – Silver War Badge Records (Ancestry.co.uk)
  • PENS – Pension Records (Western Front Association/Fold3)
  • CWGC – Commonwealth War Grave Commission
  • RAA – Royal Artillery Attestations 1883 -1942 (FindMyPast.co.uk)
  • NEWS – Newspapers
  • CENS – Census Records (Ancestry.co.uk & FindMyPast.co.uk)
  • BFB – Briton Ferry Boys at the Front Fund Committee Records (swansea.gov.uk)
  • FAM – Family Records
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