Thomas Driscoll, Renforth St, Rotherhithe

[kezd]

Can anyone tell me anything about this Thomas Driscoll and family? I am wondering if anyone knows who his parents were, or can offer advice on how I might find out? Also, where did he or his family go from here?

[AMBLY]

Hi kezd,

I was about to ask, how do you know he was 'Thomas'?

But I think he is this fellow:

MEDAL Records:
PTE Thomas F DRISCOLL
The Queens Rgmt. - 49506 ,
Labour Corps 79344
Victory & British Medal. LC/102 B42, pg 4214
SWB List LC/17
LB.977 ag.10

There is a service record to match and so far it's a good looking match.
The man on the Medal card was Thomas Francis DRISCOLL age 41 in 1917, a married man with 3 children.

Just collating some  details - will post shortly!

Cheers
AMBLY

[AMBLY]

Hmmm, having looked closely , not so sure now....what do others think?
This chap was a reservist, from around 1916 - then called up in March 1917


Record of Service, Form B2151 - Whitehall, London 1917
Dated 7 March 1917
Reservist: Thomas Francis DRISCOLL,
Regimental Number: 49506 , later 79344
25th Labour, ------  Corps Depot Royal West Surrey Regiment
Residence: 239 New North Road, Islington N
Age 41 (Born Abt 1876)
Reg:  Depot Royal West Surrey Regt
Occ: Stoker, Married
Class C Two Medical
Description: 5' 5"
NOK: Wife, Alice DRISCOLL  (same address)
MARRIAGE: 25 Dec 1904
To Alice THURGOOD, Spinster
At St Michaels Church, Willisden,
CHILDREN:
3 daughters born 1907, 1908 and 1912
SERVICE HISTORY:
Home 7/3/17 to 17/3/14
France 18/3/17 to 19/5/17
Home 20/5/17 to 1/8/17
(Under Heading Wounded: It doesn't say he was)
MEDALS:
British War Medal and Victory Medal

In 1921, His will was returned to him by the army - the same address as above, 239 New North Road, Islington. His wife wrote back to acknowledge it's return - stating Thomas was at the time, in Broadmoor Infirmary and had been there she was sorry to say, for 2 years.

He was Deemed to have Enlisted 26 April 1916 (as a Reservist)
He was discharged in August 1917  as  No longer physically fit,  due to the effects (not physical) of his experiences in France.

There were no DRISCOLLs at 16 Renforth, Rotherhithe in the Census.

Cheers
AMBLY

[ShaunJ]

16 Renforth Street was the home of Thomas John Driscoli and Ellen Driscoll (per the electoral rolls 1922-1931)

[kezd]

Electoral rolls show him as Thomas.

I am wondering if his wife was Ellen Tupper?  Marriage 1912.
Most interested to see if his parents might have been Thomas Driscoll b about 1855 in Cork and mother Susan (Suzanne) Dudley.  I have no idea how I might confirm or rule out these parents.  I have 'lost' our Thomas and trying to find him.  In 1901 and 1911 he was in the Dowsett house in Elephant Lane (Names John in one but definitely Thomas taking his grandfather's name).

Anyway how might I find out this Thomas of Renforth St's parents?

[kezd]

Is there a service record for Thomas John Driscoll? 
I haven't seen the John in that electoral roll before…..that might make it even MORE likely that he IS the Thomas I am looking for.  Wow.  It would be very exciting if this is him as this is the only male member of the family to have survived all the TB and other losses.  His father's generation lost 7 out of 10 children to TB.

[lulubird]

I think that the Renforth Street Thomas John Driscoll did marry Ellen Tupper.  He was christened on 5 Mar 1893 in St Crispin's,Bermondsey.  He was the son of Thomas Driscoll,a waterside labourer,and Amelia Millington.  They had married aged 26 & 28 respectively in St Mary Magdalene,Bermondsey, in 1892. Her father is given as John Millington, rope maker, and Patrick Driscoll,labourer(Irish link) 

Thomas John & Ellen lived at 16 Renforth St from at least 1922 until at least 1938, with a 1936 deviation to 16 Hadland St.  In 1936 & 1938, there's a Margaret Driscoll living with them too.

Hope this helps!

[kezd]

Ok - thanks very much.  Clarifies that he is not the Thomas from my family.  Sigh.