Thomas Walter Atherley
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Thomas was born in 1894, the son of Arthur and Mary Atherley of 23 High Street, Arnold. His parents were married c. 1885 and in 1891 were living in Arnold (? West Street) with their three children, Sarah Hannah (5), Fanny (4) and George (1), the first of six children. By 1901 they were living on High Street where they were still living at the time of their son's death in 1915. On the 1911 Census Thomas Walter, aged 16, was shown as living with his family along with his five siblings, Sarah, Fanny, George, Charles (19) and Arthur (14). They were all in work. At the time of his death, Thomas was engaged to be married to May (surname not known).
He enlisted at Arnold and elected to serve with the Rifle Brigade. After training he was posted to their 10th battalion which had been formed at Winchester in September 1914. The battalion joined the 59th Brigade of the 20th Division at Blackdown and after several moves in England landed at Boulogne on the 21st July 1915 and was sent to serve on the Somme. It was during a period of intermittent trench warfare that on the 19th February 1917 Thomas was killed by shell fire during a German artillery barrage on the trenches held by his battalion. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Thiepval memorial.
Nottingham Evening Post obituary (abridged) 1 March 1918. 'Atherley killed in action February 28th 1918, Thomas Walter Atherley. Fiancee May.'
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