Thomas Arthur Blackburn, Private 15/1575, 15th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, previously 4th Battalion, KOYLI and later 2nd Lieutenant West Riding Regiment

Thomas Arthur was born in Batley, Yorkshire on 15th October 1889.  His parents were John William Blackburn (1846–1937), a Mungo Merchant, and Eliza Rebecca Sheard (1846–1931).  He had ten siblings: Fred, John Sheard, Sarah Alice, Harry, Gertrude (Gerty), Beatrice, Frederic*, Ann Eliza (Annie), Albert Victor and Ethel Mary all born between 1869 and 1892.  One child died, probably Fred.  In 1891 the family were living at Lamplands Street, Batley, the same address they were living at in 1901 although by 1911 they had moved to Field House, Batley.  Thomas was, by now, employed as a Carpet Maker, later referred to as a Carpet/Woolen (Rag) Manufacturer.  

* Frederick enlisted as an Aircraftsman in the Royal Navy Air Service (RNAS) in September 1917 and transferred to the newly formed Royal Air Force (RAF) in April 1918.

Thomas married Doris Gwendoline Jubb (1891–1973) at St Thomas Church, Batley on 18th June 1914 and they had three sons, Thomas Geoffrey born in 1915, John Denis born 1917 and Eric born in 1919. 

When Thomas (snr) joined the Army in 1914 he was 5’ 7” tall and weighed 140 lbs (10st).  He enlisted in the Leeds Pals at Colsterdale on 19th June 1915, although he had served previously for one year in the 4th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI).  After training at Colsterdale, Ripon and Fovant he embarked for Egypt in December 1915.  In March 1916 he moved with the Battalion to France to prepare for the forthcoming Battle of the Somme.  He was a member of 5 Section, 2 Platoon, A Company under the command of 2nd Lieutenant Robert Huntriss Tolson.  Robert had enlisted in the Public Schools Battalion, Middlesex Regiment in September 1914, commissioned into the KOYLI on New Year’s Day 1915 before transferring to the Leeds Pal in June that year.  Sadly, he was one of the many officer killed on 1st July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, while in command of 11 Platoon.  He was buried in No.2 Cemetery, close the front line at Serre (see post 21/01/2021).

 Having been identified as a potential officer Thomas returned to the UK on 6th February 1917 to commence officer training at No.14 Officer Cadet Battalion at Birkhamstead.  After successfully completing the course he commissioned into the 3rd Battalion, West Riding Regiment (WRR) on 31st July 1917.  

On 20th December 1918 he was tried by a General Court Martial for an offence concerning an officer under close arrest.  The charge read: ‘Conduct to the prejudice of good order and Military discipline, in that he, at Halifax on the 20th day of November 1918, when the senior officer of an escort detailed to take charge of 2nd Lieutenant E. Collinson 11th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment, an officer under close arrest, improperly permitted 2nd Lieutenant W. G. Gare, Honorable Artillery Company, the officer of the escort on duty at the time and the said 2nd Lieutenant E. Collinson to go to the town of Halifax contrary to Orders and himself accompanied them’.  He pleaded not guilty to the charge although he was found guilty by the court and reprimanded.

He was released from the Army on 5th February 1919 and relinquished his commission in 1921.  For his war service he received the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.  He appears to have gone through the war without being wounded or being seriously ill which is remarkable.

At the time of the 1921 Census Thomas, Doris and their three children were living at 7 Park Avenue, Batley.  Thomas was a Carpet Manufacturer working at Backford, Road, Batley and the family were supported by 18 year-old Domestic Servant Lizzie Leng. 

Thomas died at 18 Station Road, Filey, Yorkshire on 9th March 1938.  The following year, just prior to the start of the Second World War, a Register was compiled of all residents of the United Kingdom.  Doris, now widowed, was residing with her three sons Thomas an Accountant’s Clerk and John a Cotton Warper, who were both Special Constables, and Eric who was employed as a Carper Designer.  The three sons were all single and living with their mother at Ivy Dene Field Hill, Batley.

Sources:

The National Archive – Officer Service Record.

Ancestry – Birth, Census, Marriage and Death Registers. Other Rank Service Record, RN & RAF Records (Brother) and Medal Records.

Findmypast – 1921 Census

Yorkshire Evening Post – Marriage Announcement

Researcher: David J Owen

Please Note:

  • All opinions and inferences are the researcher’s own.
  • Please refer to our Glossary of Terms for further information on the terms and phrases used in this post

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sources:

The National Archive – Officer Service Record.

Ancestry – Birth, Census, Marriage and Death Registers. Other Rank Service Record, RN & RAF Records (Brother) and Medal Records.

Findmypast – 1921 Census

Yorkshire Evening Post – Marriage Announcement

 

 

 

Sources:

The National Archive – Officer Service Record.

Ancestry – Birth, Census, Marriage and Death Registers. Other Rank Service Record, RN & RAF Records (Brother) and Medal Records.

Findmypast – 1921 Census

Yorkshire Evening Post – Marriage Announcement