Thomas Henry Woolley
He gave his occupation as fitter when he enlisted in 1914.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Thomas Henry was the eldest son of Thomas and Elizabeth Woolley (née Boultby).
His father Thomas was born in 1877, the son of John and Jane Woolley (née Wilson). His parents had five other children and lived at 38 Bromley Street, Nottingham.
Thomas married Elizabeth Boultby at Nottingham St Paul on 19 December 1894. The couple had 11 children: Jane Elizabeth b. 1895, Thomas Henry b. 1898, Eliza b. October 1899, Mary Ann b. August 1901, Albert John b. April 1904, Samuel b. April 1906, Charles b. October 1907, Ernest b. September 1909, John Robert b. June 1911, Edith b. 20 February 1913 and Henry b. December 1914.
In 1901 Thomas, a bricklayer's labourer, his wife, a lace clipper, and their children Jane, Thomas and Eliza, were living at 40 Bromley Street.
Thomas and Elizabeth were at the same address in 1911 and both were in the same occupations as in 1901. In the home on the night of the census were their eight children: Jane a neckwear machinist (blouse manufacturer), Thomas, Eliza, Mary and Albert, who were school age, and Charles and Ernest. Their son John was born later that year, Edith in 1913 and Henry in 1914.
Thomas snr. enlisted in August 1914 when the family was living at 12 Nile Street. Thomas named his wife, Elizabeth, as his next of kin. Nine children were recorded on his attestation record including his son Thomas Henry who was serving in the 4th Battalion Sherwood Foresters. Thomas's eldest daughter, Jane, was not named and his youngest son, Henry, was born after he enlisted.
Thomas snr. was killed in 1916. His widow Elizabeth was still living at 12 Nile Street in 1921; her occupation was given as lace clipper/scalloper on her own account, 'out of work'. Her eldest daughter, Jane, had married in 1914 (spouse Henry Holford), but her other nine children were recorded at the same address as well as her widowed mother, Elizabeth Boultby. None of the three older children, Mary, Albert and Samuel, were in work.
Six of Thomas Henry's siblings have been traced after 1921:
Jane Elizabeth Holford died in 1977.
Mary Ann married Herbert Wilson at Nottingham St Andrew on 25 December 1924.
Albert Woolley married Jane E Wood in 1934. He died in 1981.
Charles joined the Royal Navy in the 1920s and was discharged shore in October 1937 and transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve. He was mobilised in June 1939 and served to October 1945. He married Annie Spooner in 1934 and died in 1992.
Ernest married Mabel Kay in 1936. He died in 1968.
Samuel married Amelia Archer in 1939. He died in 1965.
His mother Elizabeth probably died in 1961 aged 83.
Thomas Henry Woolley, a fitter, enlisted at Nottingham on 10 June 1914. He gave his age as 18 but was born in 1898 so was only 16 years old. Thomas named his mother, Elizabeth, of 12 Nile Street, as his next of kin.
He joined the 4th Battalion (Special Reserve) Notts & Derby Regiment, but was later posted to the 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters and served in France from 27 December 1914.
Thomas was killed in action on 13 May 1915 and was buried in Le Touquet Railway Crossing Cemetery, Belgium (grave ref. F. 1).
He qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
CWGC History of Le Touquet Railway Crossing Cemetery (extract): the Cemetery is 15km from the town of Ieper (Ypres). 'The cemetery was used from October 1914 to June 1918. Rows A to E contain the graves of 28 men of the 1st Rifle Brigade killed in October and November 1914, during fierce German attacks on the 11th Infantry Brigade.' (www.cwgc.org)
His father Thomas Woolley served with the 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters (6077 Private). He was killed in action on 16th September 1916 and is buried in Serre Road Cemetery No 2 Beaumont Hamel. (See record on this Roll of Honour)
CWGC Additional information: Son of Mrs. E. Woolley, of 12, Nile St., Brook St., Nottingham.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 11 June 1915: ‘Woolley. Killed in action May 13th, Thomas Woolley, 2nd Sherwood Foresters, dearly beloved son of Thomas and Elizabeth Woolley, 12, Nile-street, aged 17. He gave his life for his country. He died a noble death.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, 'In Memoriam', 13 May 1916:
'Woolley. In loving memory of Private Thomas Henry Woolley, Sherwood Foresters, killed in action, May 13th, 1915. He is gone, but not forgotten, and as dawns another year in our lonely hours of thinking thoughts of him are always near. – Sorrowing mother, brothers, and sisters, and father (in France).'
'Woolley. In loving memory of our dear brother, Thomas Henry Woolley, Sherwood Foresters, killed in action May 13th, 1915. There's never a morn nor night returns but what we think of thee. – From sister and brother Lizzie and Harry.”
Above courtesy Jim Grundy facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour', 28 October 1916: ‘Woolley. Killed in action Sept 13th (sic) 1916 Private Thomas Woolley, Sherwood Foresters, No 12 Nile Street, also son killed in action 1914 (sic) in a far and lonely battlefield, where the trees their branches bend, lies my loving husband and son, gone to their untimely end, sleep on, dear husband and son in a hero’s grave, a grave we may never see, but as long as life and memory last we remember thee. From his sorrowing wife and children.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Also ‘In Memoriam’ notices, 14 May 1917 and 13 May 1918, from mother, brothers and sisters, and from brother and sister, Harry and Lizzie.
Additional information/record updated, RF (Jan. 2026)
Thomas Henry Woolley
Photograph published 10th June 1915, Nottingham Evening Post. Courtesy Jim Grundy facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
Thomas Henry Woolley
CWGC grave and headstone, Le Touquet Railway Crossing Cemetery. (Courtesy David Alton)
Photo of Thomas Henry Woolley
Le Touquet Railway Crossing Cemetery, Belgium (www.cwgc.org)