Thomas Frederick Gumsley
- Family History
- Military History
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Thomas Frederick Gumsley was born on 9th July 1896 at Newark and was the son of Thomas Gumsley a bricklayer and his wife Harriet Gumsley née Bagguley of 23, Parliament Street Newark. His father Thomas Gumsley was born 1860 in Newark and his mother Harriett Bagguley was born in 1860 at Thorpe, they were married in 1888 their marriage was recorded in the Southwell registration district, they went on to have 8 children, sadly two died in infancy or early childhood , their surviving children were, George b1889 Elston, Eliza Ann b1891 Elston, William b1892 Elston, Harry b1894 Elston, Thomas Frederick b1897 Newark and Gladys b1899 at Newark. In the 1911 census the family are living at 23 Parliament Street, Newark and are shown as Thomas 51 yrs a bricklayer, he is living with his wife Harriett 51 yrs and their children, George 22 yrs a labourer, Eliza Ann 20 yrs a domestic servant, William 19 yrs a moulder, Harry 17 yrs a grocers porter, Thomas Frederick 14 yrs an errand boy at a boot shop, and Gladys 12 yrs a scholar.
1/8th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) Private Thomas Frederick Gumsley enlisted in Newark. He served in France with the battalion from 2 March 1915 and was killed in action five months later on 8 August 1915. Four other members of the battalion, Sergeant Arthur Phillipson and Privates Ernest King, Percy Scott and Albert Edward Smith, were killed the same day when a shell hit their trench. (See records on this Roll of Honour) Thomas has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (Panel 39 and 41). ‘History of the 1/8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters 1914-1919’, Capt. WCC Weetman MC CdG, ‘The Salient June 1915-October 1915’ Mentioning the casualties following the ‘activities of July 30th and 31st’, the author continued ‘This total was increased from day to day by incessant shelling, trench mortars and rifle grenades, and by the unfortunate inaccuracy of one of our 6-inch naval guns which persisted in firing into our trenches until its identity was eventually discovered. During the first fortnight in the Salient here, our casualties were no fewer than four officers wounded [named], 36 other ranks killed, or died of wounds, and 90 wounded.'
His brother Private Harry Gumsley initially served in the Sherwood Foresters (1384) but later transferred to the 1st battalion Lincolnshire Regiment. He landed in France on 28th June 1915 and was killed in action on 18th December 1917. Harry is buried at Tincourt New British Cemetery His brother William Gumsley also served during the war. He enlisted at Newark on 13th November 1914 aged 22 yrs and 9 months. He was a labourer and lived with hjis parents at 23 Parliament Street, Newark. He served with the 8th battalion Sherwood Foresters and later the West Yorkshire Regiment and the Oxford & Buckingham Light Infantry. He had two periods of service in France. William was discharged on 4 March 1919. Newark Herald, 4 September 1915 :- 'Thomas Frederick Gumsley was the son of Thomas & Harriet Gumsley, 23 Parliament Street, Newark. Enlisted soon after the outbreak of war and went to France at the latter end of March 1915. Having previously been made a marksman at Luton. Before enlistment he was employed by Messrs. A. Ransome & Co. He was a very clever swimmer and an enthusiastic fisherman. Celebrated his 19th birthday in the trenches on July 9th.'
