Joshua Thomas Fucito (known as Thomas) was born in late 1879/early 1880 in Newport, he was the eldest child of Giuseppe and Jane Fucito. According to Thomas’s grand-daughter; Giuseppe was Italian and emigrated from Meta, near Sorrento.

In the 1881 census, Giuseppe, Jane and Thomas were living at 95 Dolphin Street, Newport. Thomas was 12 months old and Giuseppe was shown as a General Shopkeeper from Italy whilst Jane was from Carmarthen.

By 1891, the family had moved to Swansea and were living at 11 New Street. Giuseppe was not showing on the census, however Thomas was living with his mother and 4 younger siblings.

By 1901, the family (Thomas, both parents and 4 siblings) had moved again and were living at 79a Strand, Swansea. By this time, Thomas was aged 20 and working as an Oilskin Maker.

Thomas’s grand-daughter added the following; The Fucito Bros were all master oilskin makers in Swansea and had their own business - which the government commandeered off them at the beginning of First World War.

In early 1902, Thomas married Alice Maud Miskelly (known as Maud) in Cardiff and soon after welcomed their first child. His grand-daughter recounted; The first born child was a girl, I believe her name was also Allice Maud, sadly she died around age 1.

Thomas and Maud went on to have 6 more children; Thomas (1904), Irene (1906), Phylis (1908), Olive (1910), Leonard (1912) and Myfanwy (1916).

In the 1911 census, Thomas, Maud and 4 of the children were living at 14 Skinner Street. The record showed Thomas now working as a Bookmakers Collector.

Thomas voluntarily enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery in September 1915. Whilst he did not serve overseas, it is unlikely that he saw much of his family until after the War. That said, Thomas and Maud welcomed their final child, Myfanwy, in December 1916. On the baptism record, Thomas gave his address as 74 Baptist Well Street and occupation as Soldier (Oilskin Maker).

Thomas was discharged from the Army on 15 March 1919; his military records confirm that his address at that time was 72 Baptist Well Street and that following the war he suffered from Neuritis, for which he received a military pension until 1924.

Little other information has been found in relation to Thomas, other than that he remained in Swansea for the rest of his life and passed away at the Cefn Coed Hospital on 21 January 1942 at the age of 62. He was survived by his wife, Maud who was living at 29 Richardson Street.

Thomas enlisted in the 1st Welsh (Howitzer) Brigade in September 1915 and was given the Brigade service number of 1511.

Unfortunately, his service record was destroyed in the Blitz and there are very few surviving records. However, with the fragments that remain, it is possible to give an outline of his service.

Following his basic training, Thomas was posted to the 2nd Line of the Brigade, whose role was defend Britain whilst the 1st Line fought abroad. The 2nd Line were based near Bedford and later on, in East Anglia.

At some point later in the War, Thomas transferred to the Labour Corps as a Private. He was initially given a new Labour Corps service number of 705, but that was later changed to 561646. The exact date of his transfer is unknown, however it was likely to have been around or just after January 1917 when the Territorial Artillery were also given new 6-digit service numbers. Thomas was assigned the new artillery number of 725704, which is from the batch of numbers associated with the 1st Welsh Howitzers.

There is no evidence that Thomas Fucito saw active service or went overseas.

Pte T Fucito was demobilsed on 15 March 1919 suffering from Neuritis. He received a military pension until 1924.

Two of Thomas’s brothers also served in the Great War; Joseph (bn 1880) served in the 1/6th Bn Welsh Regt. It appears that he was reservist and was recalled to the army on 7 August 1914 and went to France 29 October. He was discharged on 21 December 1915 suffering from ‘mental deficiency’, which is likely to have been shell shock. Anthony (bn c1882) served in the Swansea Battn of the Welsh Regt. He enlisted 5 October 1914 at Swansea and was discharged 25 March 1915 for not being likely to become an efficient soldier.

Thomas’s descendants have continued to proudly serve in the military to this day.