Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Grave: | Lillers Communal Cemetery | V. A. 7. | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.136 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 33D GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Family :
Son of William and Margaret Strain; husband of Minnie Strain, of 2, Southwood Court, Golders Green, London.Education & Career :
University of Glasgow. Doctor
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: No. 6 Mobile Laboratory |
| 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 :
BMJ: 30/9/1916 Captain Thomas Strain, R.-A.M.C., was accidentally killed on service oni September 16th. He was the younaest son of Mr. W. Strain, of Buarbrae, Wishaw, and was educated at St. MuIngo's College and Anderson's College, Glasgow, and at tlle University, where lio graduated M.B. and Ch.B. in 1906, and M.D. in 1910. He took the D.P.I. Cambridge in 1908, and filled successively tlle posts of residenit miiedical officer of Enfield and Edmiolnton Joint Isolation Hospital; of assistant medical officer of hlealth and school medical officer to the Ayrsljire Coulnty Council; and of medical officer of lhealth, bacteriologist, -medical superintendent of the Infectious Diseases Hospital, and medical officer of tlle tuberculosis dispensary to the Baines Urban District Council. Before the war lie was medical officer of lhealth alnd school medical oficer of Heston and Isleworth Urban District, and consulting plhysician to the Richmond, Heston, and Isleworth Joint Isolation Hospital Comnmittee. He took a temporary comniission in the R.A.M.C. on April 12th, 1915, and was promoted to captain on completion of ayear's service.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Beckenham No. 2047 E.C. | London |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
11th November 1909 | 9th December 1909 | 14th April 1910 |
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