Name
Thomas Edwin Yendell
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Army Service Corps
Motor Transport
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
Thomas Yendell was born in the summer of 1878 at St Pancras. He was one of four children (three sons and one daughter) born to William and Rosalie Yendell. At the time of the 1881 Census the family lived at 39 Bayham Street, St Pancras. William was employed as a China Warehouseman. Ten years later, in 1891, the family had moved to 8 Statham Street, Rotherhithe, where Rosalie was noted as the Head of the Household.
Thomas married Annie Stickland in 1910, and was probably living in the West Country at the time as his new wife came from Puddletown, Dorset, and their first child, a daughter, was born at Sherborne on 22nd June 1910.
In the 1911 Census the family was recorded living at 31 Weston Road, Watford. Thomas was recorded as employed as an Asylum Night Attendant. A son was born on 12th September 1912 at Watford.
Thomas attested to the Army Service Corps on 13th November 1915 and undertook a Medical at Watford on the same day. At the time he gave an address at 1 Temple Villas, Abbots Langley, and his occupation as an Asylum Attendant. He joined at Aldershot on 14th November 1915, and embarked on the SS “Connaught” at Southampton destined for France on 1st May 1916. He disembarked at Le Harve on 2nd May and on 10th May was posted to 31st Division Supply Column.
Thomas was recorded for the first time in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour in February 1916, but was incorrectly listed serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps. By April 1916 he was listed with the Army Service Corps.
His wife died on11th September 1916, and Thomas was granted leave to return to England from 14th to 20th September. He received further periods of leave from 21st to 31st October 1917, and 15th to 29th November 1918.
Thomas was listed in the Absent Voter Records for Autumn 1918 and Spring 1919 serving with the 31st Division Motor Transport Section of the Army Service Corps. His address was given at 1 Temple Villas, Abbots Langley.
He remained in France until 3rd February 1919, and arrived back in England the next day. Thomas was demobilised to Temple Villas, Abbots Langley on 5th March 1919. It was noted that he had been employed as a Loader with the 31st Division Royal Army Service Corps (Motor Transport), and was considered sober, reliable and intelligent.
Thomas Yendell survived the War. His brother Albert served as a Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery, but was discharged having been diagnosed with Pulmonary Tuberculosis on 11th February 1919. After Medical Examinations he died in September 1919, and was considered by the Military Authorities as having died in service.
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
