The stuff with Herbert has only got mixed in today, I knew he had enlisted because I’d seen his Attestation papers but didn’t know anything about his service but since we’ve found out the record that was found was Herbert’s and not Thomas’ I’ve discounted it and gone back to the original story.
I’ve been talking to my Mum and yes Thomas was definitely in the Army, this took place in France and was late 1914/early 1915. Thomas received gun shot wounds to the stomach, some of the shrapnel was never removed and he died from stomach cancer in Bethnal Green Hospital (don’t know if this is related to the shrapnel or not just repeating what she told me.)
Thomas was found by someone from his regiment and was fed snow to keep him alive until he reached the field hospital.
It was definitely Elizabeth and Thomas George who were on the ship (or boat as my Mum called it) that got torpedoed, they were almost in France when they were attacked, she doesn’t know the name of the ship or if it sank but she said Elizabeth ended up in the water. Elizabeth and Thomas George both made it to France and did see Thomas in the field hospital, she doesn’t know if Thomas came home with them or at a later date but he was medically discharged.
On the 1911 Census Thomas is a Hawker but he had a Licenced Hawker’s badge and my Nan told my Mum Thomas got that because he was invalided out of the Army. I asked her about an Army Pension but she’s not aware of one but then again she was only 4 when Thomas died.
I haven’t got Thomas George’s or Stanley’s birth certificates only their birth registrations:
Thomas George Bethnal Green 1 c 289
Stanley George Bethnal Green 1 c 154
and Stanley’s death registration Bethnal Green 1 c 362
Do their Birth and Death certificates contain their parents home address? and if I order pdf copies will that give me the information I’m looking for? Just checking.
I’ve seen Stanley’s Burial Record and thought I had downloaded it but can’t find it and have only written the plot number (F593) and death age (5 months) down. I can’t remember if it’s his or his sisters’ Florence who died in 1922 that said Bethnal Green Infirmary.
I haven’t found Thomas on the 1918 Electroral Register but only because I haven’t looked before now and wouldn’t have been sure of an address but I’d place money on it being Bethnal Green now.
Also I don’t know but would a Hawker be in a trade directory?
