Name
Francis (Frank) Albert Thomas
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/03/1918
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
29638
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 28 and 29
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Croxley Green Village Memorial, Croxley Green,
All Saints' Church Shrine, Croxley Green,
John Dickinson & Co Memorial, Croxley Mill, Croxley Green,
Rickmansworth Urban District Memorial
Pre War
In 1911, Frank was living with his parents (Francis Albert senior and Elizabeth Ann Thomas) at 112 New Road. It was a big family. His mother had 12 children of whom 9 survived.
In 1901 the family was at 7 Louise Gardens, New Road. He was born in 1886 in Dartford, Kent. Judging by the census records the family arrived in Croxley Green around 1893. He married Frances Elizabeth Thorpe in 1914 and she lived at ‘Coboro’ Dickinson Avenue, Croxley Green after the war. His father was a papermaker and Frank was a clerk at Croxley Mill.
Recorded as enlisting in Watford.
Wartime Service
Private Francis Albert Thomas, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was 32 when he died.
The Battalion formed part of the 89th Brigade of the 30th Division from December 1915 until February 1918 when it became part of the 90th Brigade, 30th Division. In the early part of March 1918 they were based at Villers St Christophe, west of St Quentin.
Frank was killed on the first day of the German Spring Offensive when the Battalion was between Savy and Etreillers. His chaplain was quoted in the Watford Observer of 27 April, ‘He died as a fine soldier, doing his duty bravely and well to the last. We honour his memory for his fine and noble example’.
The Army paid his widow £15 8s 2d including a war gratuity of £8.
Additional Information
SDITGW has his number as 29631.
Frank is also commemorated on the family grave in Rickmansworth (Chorley Road) Cemetery. His part of the inscription reads:
AND FRANK, KILLED IN ACTION 21ST MARCH 1918. THE LORD GOD REIGNETH
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Brian Thomson, Croxley Green in the First World War Rickmansworth Historical Society 2014
