Thomas’s battalion was also involved in the Second Battle of the Scarpe as part of 37th Division. They were engaged just south of the village of Gavrelle when he was killed in action on the 23rd April 1917.
As an older married man Thomas most likely enlisted as part of the “Derby” scheme in late 1915. This was a form of deferred enlistment where men were called up according to groups based on age and marital status. Full conscription started in March 1916. Thomas did not cross to France until after 1915 and was initially in the East Surrey Regiment.
The Battalion War Diary for the 23rd April 1917 reads:
Report received from OC Coy [Officer Commanding Company] at 3 am that their Coy’s were in the attack formation. At Zero hour (4.45 am) the Battn [Battalion] advanced in accordance with the Artillery Barrage programme until the German second line was taken and here considerable confusion arose owing to men of the 63rd Bde [Brigade] getting over too much to the left. About this point it was found difficult to make a further immediate advance owing to enemy enfilade Machine Gun fire and snipers. The Battn on our left was slightly in rear of us and we had to wait until they came up in line before the Machine Guns and Snipers were silenced…
A little later:
…A patrol was pushed out to see if CUBA TRENCH was occupied. The patrol returned and reported that CUBA TRENCH was clear of enemy. The Battn then consisting of 3 Officers & about 50 OR’s [Other Ranks] occupied CUBA TRENCH.
Total casualties reported from the action between 22nd and 29th April were 4 Officers killed, 6 Officers wounded. 42 Other Ranks killed, 192 Other Ranks wounded, 22 Other Ranks missing.
Thomas’s body was never found or identified and he is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.
Cuba Trench Map
Extract of map from McMaster Univeristy Digital Archive
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/
A trench map showing the position of Cuba Trench just south of Gavrelle.
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