Name
Thomas Dilley(*1)
1897
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/03/1918
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
43509
Northamptonshire Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 54 to 56.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Hitchin memorials(*2), Not on the Hemel Hempstead memorials
Pre War
*1 Various records suggest that he was actually Sidney Thomas Dilley with his parents as James and Mary Dilley.
Thomas was born in 1897 in Hemel Hempstead and was christened in Hitchin in 1900. His parents were James and Mary Dilley.
In 1901 the family were living at 4 Midland Cottages, Hitchin. Present were both parents: James (46) and Mary (43), with James working as a railway guard. Their children were: Grace (15), Stanley David (10) and Thomas (3). Two boarders were present Reginald Wintle (27) and Charles Scout (16).
By 1911 the family were living at 40 Senwick Road Wellingborough Northamptonshire. Present were both parents, James now working as a passenger guard. The census recorded they had been married for 36 years with 8 children, of whom 2 had died. Of the above children Grace was absent and Thomas was recorded as Sidney Thomas, 13 and a newsboy. A grandson, Willie Dilley (6) was present.
Officially he was recorded as born in Hitchin, Herts(*2), and he enlisted in Northampton.
Wartime Service
Killed in action
Additional Information
After his death £16b 16s 0d pay owing was authorised to go to his father, James, on 24 July 1918. Later, a war gratuity of £15 10s was authorised to be paid to him on 27 November 1919.
His pension cards record James Dilley as his widow/father/mother and as his next of kin/dependant, living at 40 Fenwick Road, Wellingborough, Northants. He was awarded a pension of 5s a week from 6 November 1919.
*2 The SDITGW gives Hitchin as Sidney or Thomas birth location. However, other records show that his birth was registered in Hemel Hempstead, he was baptised in Hitchin on2nd May 1900 and the 1901 and 1911 census record his birth location as Hemel Hempstead, The parents are consistently listed as James and Mary Dilley. From this information we believe was not born in Hitchin or living there when he enlisted and therefore does not have a direct connection.
