Thomas Woolley
1901/1911 - bricklayer's labourer.
1914 - town labourer (presumably employed by Nottingham Corporation)
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Thomas Woolley 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. John Robert was born later that year followed by Edith in 1913 and Henry in 1914.
By the time Thomas enlisted in August 1914 the family was living at 12 Nile Street. Thomas named his wife, Elizabeth, as his next of kin and listed nine children on the attestation form including his son Thomas Henry who was serving in the 4th Battalion Sherwood Foresters. His daughter Jane (b. 1895) was not named and his youngest son, Henry, was born after he enlisted.
His widow Elizabeth was still at 12 Nile Street in 1921; her occupation was given as lace clipper/scalloper on her own account but 'out of work'. Elizabeth's son Thomas Henry had been killed in May 1915 serving with the Sherwood Foresters, but with the exception of her eldest daughter, Jane, who had married in 1914 (spouse Henry Holford), her other 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.
Elizabeth Woolley probably died in 1961 aged 83.
Six of her ten surviving children 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.
Thomas's Army service record gives his first names as 'Thomas James' but this is the only record traced so far that gives the second name 'James'.
He enlisted at Nottingham on 20 August 1914 in the Army Reserve, Special Reserve (One Year Engagement). He was 37 years old and a town labourer. He had served previously in the 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) but had purchased his discharge in 1896.
Under training between 20 August 1914 and 23 March 1915, Thomas initially served in the 9th (Service) Battalion but was then posted to the 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters in which Battalion he served with BEF France from 24 March 1915.
He was killed in action on 16 September 1916 and is buried in Serre Road Cemetery No 2 at Beaumont Hamel, France (grave ref. XXXIII. C.11).
Service record: Home 20 August 1914-23 March 1915, 216d. Ex. Force 24 March 1915-16 September 1916, 1y 177d. Total 2y 28d.
He qualified for the 1914/1915 Star and Victory and British War Medals.
His eldest son Thomas Henry Woolley also served during the Great War in the 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters and was killed in action on 13th May 1915. He is buried in Le Touquet Railway Crossing Cemetery. (See record on this Roll of Honour)
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.'
Above courtesy of Jim Grundy and his 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), Private T Woolley, 12 Nile-street, Sherwood Foresters. A loving father, true and kind, he was to us in heart and mind; he always tried to do his best, and now he has gone to take his rest. From his loving son Harry, daughter Lizzie, and granddaughter.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 28 October 1916: ‘Woolley. Killed in action, Sept. 13th (sic), Private Thomas Woolley, Sherwood Foresters, No. 12, Nile-street. He bravely answered duty’s call; he gave his life for one and all. Fondly remembered by mother, sisters, brothers, also brothers in France.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Note: It seems that Thomas's wife had been informed initially that her husband had died between 13th and 16th September.
‘In Memoriam’ notices, 15 September 1917 and 13 September 1918. Thomas: from wife and children, son and daughter Harry and Lizzie. Thomas Henry: from mother, sisters, brothers, 'also brother in France'.
Thomas's personal property, one packet of postcards, was returned to his widow in April 1917.
Elizabeth was awarded a pension of 38 shillings and 9 pence a week for herself and eight children with effect from 23 April 1917.
Peter Gillings. Additional information/record updated RF (Aug. 2025/Jan. 2026)
Photo of Thomas Woolley
Sierre Road Cemetery No 2 France