Captain
Thomas William BONE
Infantry
Died: 6th August 1918 - Age: 49

Commemorated:

1. Grave:Rawalpindi War Cemetery3. C. 8.
2. Book:The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918Pg.117
3. Memorial:The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour28D GQS
    

Awards & Titles:

 

Early Life :

The majority of this legend is courtesy of Geoff Cuthill of the Province of West Lancashire, to whom the project is grateful.

Thomas was born on 27th October, 1868 in London, to Thomas William and Emily Eliza Bone (nee Plumridge), who themselves were both Londoner’s, Thomas, a Fancy-goods warehouseman, born in 1846, and Emily in 1843, who had married at Christ Church, Greyfriars, Newgate on 1 January 1868. The following census of 1871 shows the family at Clay Street, Essex Grove, Walthamstow, London. The head of the household is Thomas W. Bone aged 25 at a Fancy Goods Warehouse who was born in London, Middlesex, also his Emily E Bone age 28 also born in London, Middlesex, and their son, named after his father age 2, born in Middlesex.

In 1881, Thomas and his family are at 3 Balfour Villas, Choumont Road, Camberwell, Surrey, (now part of London). This includes three new siblings, two brothers and a sister. Cyprian H. born 1876, Walthamstow, Agnes E. 1878 in Camberwell, and Ernest A. 1880, also in Camberwell. By the time of the 1891 census the family has moved to the Manchester area residing at 4 Sunny Bank, Carrington Road, Flixton. Head of household Thomas W. Bone 45, with a Fancy Goods Warehouse, wife Emily E. Bone aged: 48 with Thomas junior nonage 22 with his occupation given as a Warehouseman He now has 4 younger siblings.

Five year later Thomas married Annie Beatrice Sewell on 12 August 1896 at the parish Church of St Michael, Flixton. He is described as a 27 year old bachelor, occupation Salesman, of Sunny Bank, Flixton and the son of Thomas William Bone, Agent. Annie is 33, spinster of White Lake House, Flixton, daughter of John Christianas Sewell, Agent. The following year their son Denis Sewell Bone was born at Flixton and by the time of the 1901 census Thomas Jnr and his family are at 123 Whitelake Drive, Flixton. Thomas aged 32, a Buyer (Manchester Goods) and born in London, Middlesex. Wife Annie is aged 38 and born in Patricroft. Their son, Dennis S. Bone born in Flixton is given as aged 3 years. Thomas’s parents and 4 siblings were still residing at Carrinton Road, Flixton.

The census return in 1911 shows Thomas at the Hampden Residential Club, Hampden House, Phoenix Street. London NW, a 400 room Masonic residential Masonic building in the Borough of St Pancras. Visiting on business he is described as a 42 year old married goods salesman of Manchester. The other family members are found at White Lake House, Flixton.

Service Life:

Campaigns:

Unit / Ship / Est.: 1st (Garrison) Battalion Somerset Light Infantry 

1st Garrison Battalion Formed in Plymouth in January 1917. Moved to India in February 1917. Joined Rawalpindi Brigade in 2nd (Rawalpindi) Division

Action : India & Imperial Policing 

At the start of the war it was important to bring Regular Battalions back from their 'Imperial Policing' role in India and the FarEast. These troops were replaced by Territorial and other Garisson troops.

Detail :

On 25 January 1915 Thomas attested for service with the 8th Battalion Manchester Regiment age 46, already a member of the National Reserve. He also stated that he had previous service with the 6 Bn Manchester, which was also a Territorial Force unit. Interestingly entered in a space at the top of the first page that his height was five foot nine inch, chest thirty-six and a half inch, boots size 7, and waist thirty-seven half inch, (perhaps because of his years as a salesman) and cap 6,5/8. He attested as Private 994, later in his service being re-numbered as 19885, he was promoted Corporal on 2 February 1915, Lance Sergeant/ Sergeant on 3 April 1915. Only a month after his promotion to Sergeant, Thomas was one of ten Brethren who were made Honorary members of MARQUIS of LORNE LODGE, No.1354, in Leigh on May 5th 1915. They were at this period being brought in to serve as guards for the nearby Etherstone Prisoner of War Camp.

Besides Thomas, the other brethren were Sgt. W. Hardcastle lodge unknown. Captain Kenneth Crause Wright, a career soldier who would eventually rise to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Initiated into Stewart Lodge No 1960, Rawal Pindi of Murree Punjab (now Pakistan) in 1893, he served on the North West Frontier, India, and in the South African War. Captain Thomas Mason Groom, who had been initiated in 1884, a wine merchant, into Prince of Wales Lodge No 1012 in Bury, Lancashire. He had formerly been a Captain in the 1st Flintshire Engineer Volunteers (Buckley) and volunteered into the Territorial Force in WW1 and appointed Captain 20 November 1914. He was with the 6th Battalion Manchester Regiment before transfer to the Royal Defence Corps. He died on 1 June 1916 and is buried at Rake Lane, Wallasey, Cheshire. Lieut James Fraser Burns, a joining member from the Scottish Constitution to Comrades Lodge No 2976 at Colchester in 1907. Two years later in 1909 he became a joining member of Morning Star Lodge No 552, Lucknow, India while serving as Regimental Sergeant Major with the 8th Hussars. Colour Sergeant George Frederick Allsop a Municipal Officer was initiated into DeTatton Lodge No 2144, Altrincham, Cheshire, age 50 in 1914. Captain A Campbell lodge unknown, Lieut. Bertie Harold Holroyd, former 2nd Lieut with Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own (Yorkshire Regiment), initiated into Manchester Dramatic Lodge No 2387 in 1909. Quarter Master Sergeant Joseph N Dillon who was a joining member of Lodge of Friendship No 1696 at Port Louis, Mauritius in 1908 as a Sergeant. He came from Lodge Friendship No 439 (SC), also in Port Louis. In 1919, now with the rank of Captain, Joseph joined Daedalus Lodge No 3843, Sleaford, while serving at Cranwell. Lastly Orderly Sergeant Thomas Jones who had been initiated into Argyle Lodge No.65, in Montreal, Canada.

Thomas was transferred to 321 Protection Company, Royal Defence Corps as a Sergeant on 29 April 1916, until obtaining a commission on 7 September 1916 within the Corps. This appears in the supplement to the London Gazette issued on 6 September 1916. However, Thomas next appears on active service while serving with the 1st Garrison Battalion, Prince Albert’s Somerset Light Infantry. Although formed at Plymouth in January 1917 they moved to India the following month and joined the Rawalpindi Brigade in 2nd (Rawalpindi) Division. On 26 June 1917, Thomas, now a Lieutenant/Temporary Captain, became a joining-member of LIGHT IN THE HIMALAYAS LODGE NO 1443 meeting at Muree, Punjab

Serving as Captain Adjutant, in the 1st Garrison Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry, Thomas died in service on Tuesday, 6th August, 1918, aged 49 years, and buried in Plot 3. Row C. Grave 8, in Rawalpindi War Cemetery, Pakistan, one of 257 Great War burials. Thomas’s widow, Mrs. A.B.Bone, still lived at White Lake House, Flixton, Lancashire when the war finished, and it was to this address that her late husband’s medals were sent, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
In a statement of Particulars made at Lahore on 27th November 1918 the following additional details were given - Captain and Adjutant, Place of Death - Rawalpindi, brother of 307947 Gunner E.A. Bone, 3rd Mountain Battery, R.A., Quetta.

The index to wills and probate notes; Bone, Thomas William of White Lake House, Flixton, Lancashire, Captain H.M. Army died 6th August 1918 at Pindi, India. Probate London 8th March 1919 to Annie Beatrice Bone widow. Effects £1199.10s.7d. This is quantified further with the extract from Probate of Will produced by Messrs Hand, Gartside & Goolden. Solicitors, 67 Princess Street, Manchester. (date of registration 24/3/1920) - Estate of Thomas William Bone the younger of White Lake House, Flixton, County of Lancashire, Captain Somerset Light Infantry formerly of Woodbine Terrace, Flixton. Date and Place of Death - 6th August a Rawalpindi in India on Active Service. Will (formal) 17th August 1897. Grantees - Annie Beatrice Bone, widow the relict of deceased the sol executrix named in he said will. Gross Value - £1199.10s.7d.

Sadly, the only child of Thomas and Annie, Denis Sewell Bone, died in the isolation hospital at Salisbury on 22nd February 1916 of spotted fever. Denis was aged 18 years serving at as Private 3923, with the 3/7 Battalion, The Manchester Regiment. A former pupil of Manchester Grammar School, where he won his colours as a harrier. He was laid to rest in St. Michaels Churchyard, Flixton, in grave L. 171.

Both Thomas and his son Denis are commemorated on the memorial in the porch-way entrance of St Michael’s Church, Flixton. Thomas is also commemorated on the memorial at Urmston Conservative Club, and also at the Flixton and Davyhulme Conservative Club.

Masonic :

TypeLodge Name and No.Province/District :
Mother : Urmston No. 1730 E.C.West Lancashire
Joined : Lodge Light in the Himilayas No. 1448 E.C. Pakistan
Joined : Marquis of Lorne No. 1354 E.C. West Lancashire

Initiated
Passed
Raised
10th February 1902
10th March 1902
14th April 1902
 

Thomas William Bone was initiated into Urmston Lodge No 1730, aged 34 years, occupation Buyer, by his father, W.Bro Thomas William Bone Snr. His proposer was W.Bro. John Slyman, seconded by W.Bro. G.A. Myers. This was on 10th February 1902, while he was resident at White Lake House, Whitelake Avenue, Flixton. Thomas was passed to the Second Degree on 10th March 1902, and raised to the degree of Master Mason on 14th April 1902, with his Grand Lodge certificate issued on 19 July 1902. He was installed as Worshipful Master of the lodge in January 1911, and the Director of Ceremonies in 1913, 1914, & 1915, becoming the Charity Representative in the following year. He was made an Honorary Member of Marquis of Lorne Lodge 1354 at Leigh, Lancashire on 5 May 1915 and became a joining-member of Lodge Light in the Himalayas No 1448 in the Punjab on 26 June 1917.

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

Additional Source:

Last Updated: 2021-02-21 17:47:19