Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Thiepval Memorial, Picardie | 8C 9A&16A | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.125 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 5B GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | British War Medal Victory Medal | ||
Early Life :
Tom was born third son of Charles and Elizabeth (nee Harding) circa 1881 in Old Malton.He married on the 6th December 1909, at All Saints Church in Fulham, Bessie Fullick, of 73 Hertescombe Avenue, Fulham. On marriage record he is recorded as a Butler, resident in Hertfordshire.
By 1911, the Tom and Bessie were resident at Longly Cottage, Kelsall, Cheshire. He was 31, and employed as a butler. Their first child, Charles Percy had been born in 1910.
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 9th Battalion Royal Fusiliers |
9th (Service) Battalion Formed at Hounslow on 21 August 1914 as part of K1 and attached to 36th Brigade, 12th (Eastern) Division. Landed in France in May 1915. |
| Action : The Battles of the Somme 1916 |
The Battle of the Somme 1st July - 18th November 1916 is inevitably characterised by the appalling casualties (60,000) on the first day, July 1st 1916. Having failed to break through the German lines in force, and also failed to maximise opportunities where success was achieved, the battle became a series of attritional assaults on well defended defence in depth. The battle continued officially until 18th November 1916 costing almost 500,000 British casualties. German casualties were about the same, and French about 200,000. The Somme could not be counted a success in terms of ground gained or the cost, but it had a strategic impact as it marked the start of the decline of the German Army. Never again would it be as effective whilst the British Army, learning from its experience eventually grew stronger to become a war winning army. The German High Command recognised that it could never again fight another Somme, a view that advanced the decision to invoke unrestricted submarine warfare in an attempt to starve Britain of food and material, and in doing so accelerated the United States declaration of war thus guaranteeing the eventual outcome. 287 Brethren were killed on the Somme in 1916.
Detail :
Tom enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers, at the time he was the manager of the Bell Hotel in Norwich. It was also the place where he enlisted. His regimental number, SPTS/4827 indicates that he may have originally enlisted in the 23rd or 24th Battalions (Sportsmen's) Royal Fusiliers, however 'Soldiers died in the Great War' shows that he served with the 9th (Service) Battalion as Lance Corporal, Service Number G/4827.
Probate record: HESSAY, Tom of Bell Hotel, Norwich. Lance Corporal, H.M. Army, died 6 August 1916. Probate London 13 October to Bessie Hessay, widow. Effects £512 14s 5d.
For his service his was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Lodge of Perseverance No. 213 E.C. | Norfolk |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
20th October 1914 | 17th November 1914 | 15th December 1914 |
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley