Thomas was born on 24th October 1896 and he attended Ilford County High School between 14th September 1901 and 29th March 1912. Before joining the school, he had been a pupil at Whalebone School, Chadwell Heath. He received a grant from Ford’s Charitable Bequest, Romford. Upon leaving the school, he worked as a clerk in an insurance office.
His family lived in Whalebone Lane, Chadwell Heath. His father, Alfred, was a Master Tin-plate worker and his mother’s name was Martha.
Thomas is recorded on the first Roll of Honour (in the Christmas 1914 Chronicles magazine). It gives his regiment as the ‘24th Co. of London.’
According to the CWGC website, Thomas was a private in the 1st/24th Battalion of the London Regiment (Service number 2554). He died on 26th May 1915, aged 18 and is commemorated on Le Touret Memorial (Panels 46-47).
Research by Andrew Emeny, History Teacher at ICHS
Sources:
Ancestry.com
ICHS school records and magazines
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Note
Ilford County High School started life as the Park Higher Grade School in 1901 in Balfour Road, Ilford. It was renamed Ilford County High School (or initially County High School, Ilford) in the years after the school’s management was transferred from Ilford School Board to Essex Education Committee in 1904.