Name
Thomas Leonard Plumb
1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
04/04/1917
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
R/14598
King's Royal Rifle Corps
10th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 13 A and 13 B.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Shenley Village Memorial,
St Botolph's Church Memorial, Shenleybury (now lost) (*1)
Pre War
Thomas Leonard Plumb was born on 2 July 1896 at Kingsbury, nr Hendon, Middlesex, the son of Alfred and Mary Plumb and one of six children. He was baptised on 16 September 1894 at Holy Innocents Church, Kingsbury, nr Hendon, London.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at The Hyde, Kingsbury, where his father was working as a coachman/groom. The family left Kingsbury about 1905 and went to live in Leighton Buzzard, Beds but by the 1911 Census they had moved to Oakley Cottages, New Road, Shenley and Thomas was working as baker's boy.
His parents later lived at The Beeches Garage, Shenley, Herts where they worked for Dr Bayon, the doctor in Shenley, living in the former stables.
Wartime Service
Thomas enlisted on 12 July 1915 in Mill Hill, Kilburn and joined the Kings Royal Rifles, being sent to France on 14 December 1915.
On 29 August 1916 he was admitted to No. 34 Casualty Clearing Station (which was then at Vecquemont, Somme, France) with a wound to the left eye and was discharged on 31 August 1916.
He was killed in action on 4 April 1917, aged 20, but has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £7 10s and pay owing of £3 17s 3s. She also received a pension of 10s 5d a week in respect of Thomas and his brother Victor.
Thomas and his brothers, James and Ernest who also served and died are also commemorated on the family headstone in Shenley (St. Botolph) Churchyard, Shenleybury. Their inscription reads:
ALSO OF
ERNEST LEWIS, JAMES, VICTOR, THOMAS LEONARD SONS OF THE ABOVE [Alfred Ernest & Mary Plumb]
KILLED IN ACTION 1914 1918
WHO PLUCKED THE FLOWER, THE MASTER THE GARDENER HELD HIS PEACE
Brother Alfred joined the Royal Navy in 1903 at the age of 18 and survived the war, serving until 1919.
Acknowledgments
Taff Williams, Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, shenleyww1.wordpress.com
