Name
George Toms
2 Mar 1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/10/1918
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
42527
Suffolk Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TERLINCTHUN BRITISH CEMETERY, WIMILLE
VI. A. 44.
France
Headstone Inscription
FROM LOVED ONES AT HOME
UK & Other Memorials
Holy Trinity Church Memorial, Frogmore, Holy Trinity Church Memorial, Frogmore St Stephens Parish Memorial Obelisk, Park Street, Not on the St Albans memorials
Pre War
George was born on 2 Mar 1891 in Frogmore (baptised 3 May 1891, Frogmore) to Frederick Toms, an agricultural labourer, and Elizabeth (nee Atkins). On the 1891 Census the family of parents, with William (born 1883), Walter (born 1886), Kate (born 1889) and George were living at Park Street.
On the 1901 Census George and his elder brother William (a bricklayer) were living at their grandparents John Atkins and Elizabeth (nee Charge). George’s parents were living next door with Walter, Kate, Bertie (born 1893), Maud (born 1896) and Lily (born 1899). On the 1911 Census at 97, Park Street George was living with his parents and Frank (born 1905). His grandmother Elizabeth Atkins (Charge) had Bertie, (a railway plate layer), Lily and Edith (born 1908) living with her at 95, Park Street.
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for George. He volunteered in Aug/Sep 1914 as Private 16578 Bedfordshire Regiment and following his training was posted to join 2nd Battalion in the field.
George may have been present at the Battle of Loos (25 Sep -13 Oct 1915) as a draft of 25 Other Ranks had joined the 2nd Battalion on 11 Sep 1915. He may also have been with the Beds Regt. during the Battles of Albert and Le Transloy, part of the Battles of the Somme (1916). George transferred at some time to the 2nd Battalion Suffolk Regiment as Private 42527 and would have been with them at the Battle of Selle (17 -25 Oct 1918) when he was wounded and after evacuation to a base hospitals in the Boulogne area, died on 20 Oct 1918.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £19 and arrears of £28 17s 2d was paid to his father. Brother William served as a Bugler with Ox & Bucks Light Infantry from Apr 1918 on Home Service until demobilisation in Dec 1918.
His father, Mr. F. Toms, 97, Park St., near St. Albans, Herts., ordered his headstone inscription: "FROM LOVED ONES AT HOME".
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Gareth Hughes, Jonty Wild
