Name
Tom Whalley Hammond
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/09/1916
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
7542
London Regiment *1
1st/23rd (County of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 9C, 9D, 12C and 13C.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Christ Church Memorial, Watford
Pre War
Son of Thomas Whalley and Annie Louise (nee HEYER) HAMMOND.
His parents married 23 November 1889 at St Saviour’s, Denmark Hill, London. Annie/Louisa died 1929 in Watford aged 64, and was buried 1 March in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Thomas died 24 May 1935 in Richmond, Surrey aged 72, and was possibly buried 29 May at Church Road Cemetery, Merton, Surrey.
Tom was born 28 September 1891 in East Dulwich, London, and baptised 25 March 1894 at St Saviour’s, Denmark Hill. He resided in Watford.
On the 1901 Census, aged 9 he lived in Camberwell, London, with his parents and four siblings. On the 1911 Census, an engineering clerk aged 19, he lived in Watford, with his parents and five siblings.
Wartime Service
He attested September 1914 in the Territorial Force for four years Service in the U.K., already in the 2nd Cadet Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, of Watford. He enlisted at Edward Street, London, and was formerly Private then Lance-Corporal 2544 2nd/3rd (City of London) Battalion London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers).
He embarked from Southampton 23 December 1914, and disembarked Malta 1 January 1915. Embarked from Malta 8 April 1915, and disembarked Port Sudan 19 April 1915. Embarked Port Sudan 10 September 1915, and disembarked Port Suez 12 September 1915. Embarked from Alexandria for Gallipoli 13 September 1915, was admitted to St Andrew’s [Hospital] Malta, 9 December 1915 suffering from tonsillitis, and rejoined his unit 31 January 1916. He was attached to the 23rd London Regiment 23 May 1916, transferred to the 1st/3rd Battalion London Regiment 20 June 1916, and compulsorily transferred back to the 1st/23rd Battalion London Regiment 9 September 1916.
He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 19 April 1915, and was killed in action.
Additional Information
There is an article about Tom in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 14 October 1916.
His brother Albert died 18 July 1916 and also features on Watford Borough Roll of Honour.
*1 Believed more correctly, (County of London) Bn. London Regiment.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
