12342 Serjeant George Henry Thomas
9th(Service)Battalion
Devonshire Regiment
1st july 1916
Born on 09/03/1894 in Shoreditch, London. He was baptised on 13/06/1894.
His parents were Edwin Thomas(1853-1914) and Emily Patterson(1856-1926). They were married on 21/04/1878.
George had 2 brothers; Edwin(1886-1926) and
James William(1888-1910).
He also had 4 sisters; Catherine Alice(13/06/1879-26/04/1960),Louisa Emily(08/12/1880-1974),
Maud Frances(born on 19/04/1890) and
Rose Elizabeth(born in 1897).
In the 1901 census, the family were recorded as living at
13 Brunswick Square Shoreditch. Edwin snr was employed as a furniture porter.
On the 12/05/1902, George started attending Shap Street School.
The 1911 census showed that the family had moved to
65 Howe Street,Kingsland Road,Shoreditch,London. Edwin snr was still working as a furniture porter and George was now employed as an auctioneers assistant.
George enlisted in london and his date of disembarkation into France was on 01/12/1914.
On 18/03/1915, he married Beatrice Lillian Collyer
(22/06/1892-06/04/1963).
He was killed in action on 01/07/1916.
George was awarded the 1914-1915 Star,
the 1914-1918 British War and Allied Victory medals.
His widow Beatrice was awarded a pension of 11/- a week from 22/01/1917.