Tom Bolton
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Tom Bolton was born Brightside, Bierlow in Sheffield in 1891. He was 1 of 5 children of John and Mary Ann Bolton. Tom’s father, who was a foundrey worker, died before Tom reached the age of ten and the widowed mother and family moved to Worksop living at 21 Boundry Row. Mary Ann Bolton had been born in Worksop so that seemed a likely place to move to, as no doubt, she had family living there. When Tom reached working age he took up work as a coal miner. When around 18 years old he joined the 8th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Territorials). In 1913 he married Rose Richardson of Worksop and had a child, Tom Bolton in 1914 at Worksop.
On the 2nd Feb 1913 he was accepted as a regular in the 8th Bn Sherwood Foresters, but for reasons not recorded, he was discharged as medically unfit on 1st Jan 1914. Undeterred, he tried again to join the army, this time the 9th Gordon Highlanders. Again he was accepted on 7th Dec 1914 and discharged 29/1/1915 as medically unfit. No more records are to hand as to his next attempt but the record of his death whilst in the 1st battalion of the Gordon Highlanders show he must have been successful of his ambition. Pte Tom Bolton Worksop Guardian 4 May 1917 In our issue for August 25th last year we reported that Mrs T Bolton, the residing at 19 Sandhill Street, Worksop, had received notification that her husband, Pte Tom Bolton, Gordon Highlanders and the Sherwood Foresters, had been reported missing since July 18th or 19th. There was heavy fighting in those dates in which the Gordon Highlanders and the Sherwood Foresters bore the brunt. On Tuesday of this week news was received from the War Office that Pte Bolton was killed at Guillamont on July 18th, so that the worst fears have been realised. He was only 26 years of age and a brave and gallant man. He had been a soldier since the commencement of the war. He was discharged twice but succeeded in joining the Gordon Highlanders, and in this famous regiment he went through much fighting. Much sympathy is expressed to his widow who , with one child, is now living with her brother-in-law, Mr W Richardson, Fisherman’s Arms, Church Walk. Another member of the family is in the Gordon Highlanders, vis., Pte Henry Richardson, who although only 17 years of age, stands 5’ 11”. The late Pte Bolton worked at Manton prior to the war and was well liked by all who knew him.
Commemorated on the Theipval Memorial. Research by Colin Dannatt
