Thomas Alfred Champ was born in 1888. He lived in Walthamstow with his parents, Alfred Jordan (Mercantile Clerk, later specifically an Insurance Clerk) and Agnes, and his six brothers and sisters.
1891: With his family at Ellerslie Cottage, Elmsdale Road, Walthamstow. 1901: With his family at 878 Forest Road, Walthamstow. He attended Bancroft’s School Woodford Green until the age of 16. 1911: An Insurance Clerk with his family at “Delamare” 878 Forest Road, Walthamstow. By 1915 the family home was at “Glenelg” Fullers Road, South Woodford.
He later joined the army as a Private with the 17th Battalion, London Regiment Royal Fusiliers in September 1914 and was sent to the Expeditionary Force in France, arriving on 17th November 1915.
Their deployment to the front line came during the Battle of the Somme, when they took over the support line at Longueval Alley on 25th July 1916. They soon became involved in the attack on Delville Wood to the north east, but in addition to the opposing German infantry, British forces had to endure heavy and accurate enemy shellfire. During this battle, Thomas Champ sustained a severe and ultimately fatal wound to the chest. On 27th July a grouping of units including 17 Fusiliers mounted a renewed assault. Still more casualties were incurred, however they prevailed, and the Germans were at last forced from the wood. It is not clear whether Thomas was wounded by the persistent German shellfire of British positions or while engaged in the ground attack on 27th.
He was wounded in action and died of these wounds on 29th July 1916. Thomas was buried at La Neuville British Cemetery in Corbie, France. At the time of his death, his parents were living at ‘Glenelg’, Fullers Road, South Woodford.
Research by Adrian Lee and Redbridge Museum
Sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Ancestry.com
Regimental History
For more information on this individual please see The Old Bancroftian website.