William Arthur Thomas

William Arthur was the youngest son of George Thomas and his first wife, Margaret (née Dimsdale). George Thomas was born in Bristol in about 1852 and was a career soldier. He attested in the 2nd Dragoons (1161) on 31 January 1871 at the age of 19, transferring to the 2nd Dragoon Guards (1563) on 29 February 1872. He moved frequently with the battalion and in relation to his family history he was serving in Dundalk in 1880, Manchester from December 1881, Aldershot from July 1883 and Worcester from April 1885. He was promoted sergeant major in April 1883 and discharged ten years later in March 1893. George's wife, Margaret Dimsdale, was born in Seaford Down, Ireland, in about 1859. They were married in the parish church of Dundalk, Ireland, on 10 May 1881 (A/M/J Dundalk Louth) and had four children: Georgina b. Chorlton Manchester 16 April 1882 bap. Hulme St George 28 May 1882; Ethel Jane b. Aldershot 4 August 1884 bap. Garrison Church 19 September 1884; Frederick George b. Worcestershire 18 August 1888 and William Arthur b. Dudley birth registered 1895 (J/F/M). In 1891 George, a sergeant major, and Margaret, were living in Dudley, Staffs/Worcs, with their three children Georgina (8), Ethel (6) and Frederick (2). Their youngest son was born four years later in 1895. There is a record of the death of a Margaret Thomas in 1898, death registered Dudley, although the approximate date of birth on the registration record was 1857. George married Elizabeth Orman in 1899 (O/N/D Dudley) and in 1901 they were living on Griffin Street, Dudley, with George's children Georgina, Ethel, Frederick and William (6). George was described as living on his own means ie army pensioner. By 1911 George was the licensee of the Locomotive Inn, 21 Vicar Street, Dudley, and Elizabeth (67) was helping him in the business. Only Frederick George, a belting maker (leather works), and William, a grocery assistant, were in the home on the night of the census. Georgina was a domestic servant at Kidderminster in the household of Harry Jones, a gentlemen's hatter and hosier. Ethel has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census but she may have emigrated to Canada as an Ethel Thomas (25) was listed on an outgoing passenger list in 1909 and an Ethel Jane Thomas (b. 4 August 1884), who died on 6 October 1935, is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto. William's father and stepmother have not yet been traced after 1911. William was living in Nottingham when he enlisted, which may have been in 1915. His brother Frederick married Edith Levi in Nottingham in 1934 and the brothers may have moved together to Nottingham before the war. In 1939 Frederick and Edith (b. 23 June 1894) were living on Corby Road, Mapperley, Nottingham; Frederick was a leather machine bell maker. He was killed in a road accident on 20 November 1941 (see 'Extra information'). Edith died in 1975.