Name
Thomas Olney Luxon
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
29/04/1917
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
202777
Norfolk Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DUISANS BRITISH CEMETERY, ETRUN
III. H. 47.
France
Headstone Inscription
UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN
UK & Other Memorials
Harpenden Town Memorial, Church of St Nicholas Memorial, Harpenden
Pre War
Thomas Olney was born in Harpenden in 1896 the only son William Luxon and Elizabeth (nee Morley).
On the 1901 Census the family were living at a Bakery, West Common, Harpenden and Elizabeth, his mother, giving Baker as her occupation. He was a bell-ringer in St Nicholas Parish Church.
Wartime Service
Thomas enlisted in the Norfolk Regiment as Private 203777 originally in the 4th Battalion but was attached to 7th (Service) Battalion when deployed to France.
His battalion took part in the attack on Reoux as part of the Battle of Arleux, during the Arras Offensive in Spring 1917. The attack was driven back by heavy shell and machine gun fire. Thomas was wounded (abdomen) in this action and died in No 8 Casualty Clearing Station on 29 April 1917.
Additional Information
His mother, Mrs. E. Luxon, 9, West View Rd., St. Albans., ordered his headstone inscription: “UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN”. War Gratuity of £3 and arrears of £2 7s 10d paid to his mother.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Mary Skinner, Harpenden & District Local History Society (www.harpenden-history.org.uk)
