Name
Tom (Surname Unknown)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
An undated newspaper article provided by Jim and Mary Moffatt of Pirton Grange gives us a tantalising fragment of information about an unknown Pirton man, Tom:
The article, which reports the post war visit of King George V to Pirton, ends with ‘Suffice to wind up with a story of a grandson of a Pirton man also named Tom, who sums up the bizarre but yeomen traits of the character of Pirton. This grandson was presented to King George V for bravery and skill as a bomb aimer in the First World War. ‘I suppose,’ said the King ‘that you would find it an easy matter to drop a bomb in an egg cup?’ ‘No, your majesty,’ came the reply, ‘on an eggcup’.’
Further positive identification of this man has not proved possible. His information does not fit with any of the ‘Toms’ which are already listed, i.e. Tom Lake or Thomas Abbiss. All Toms and Thomas’ of an appropriate age who are listed in the parish and census records were investigated and then traced back to find those with a grandfather of the same name. The only likely man appears to be Thomas Charles Trussell, who is listed above as Charles Trussell (baptised as Thomas Charles). George’s parents were Thomas and Esther Trussell. Perhaps this man is the right Tom, but as he was a soldier not an airman, he seems unlikely to be the right man.
Acknowledgments
Text from the book ‘The Pride of Pirton’ by Jonty Wild, Tony French & Chris Ryan used with author's permission, Jim and Mary Moffatt
