Thomas Tilley
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Thomas Tilley was born in 1889 the son of the late Matthew a coal miner and Harriett Tilley née Chadborne, Matthew was born in 1846 at Linton, Harriett Chadborne was born in 1846 at Overseal, Leicestershire, married on 8th June 1867 at St Matthews Church, Overseal, they went on to have 8 children. He was nephew of Matthew and Fanny Tilley with whom he lived at 4 Mayfield Street Kirkby in Ashfield Nottinghamshire in 1911,
Private Thomas Tilley enlisted at Mansfield whilst residing at Kirkby in Ashfield. He served in Gallipoli and Egypt before returning to France on July 1 1916. He fought in the Battle of Thiepval and Messines, 3rd Ypres (August and October 1917). At 7 am on 18 June 1918 the battalion mounted a large raid on the enemy trenches, with a party of five officers and 160 other ranks. The raid was a complete success and the men returned in the evening with seven prisoners and a machine gun. The casualties were relatively light but one was Thomas and along with 2/Lt Hudson MC he is commemorated on the Loos Memorial. John Morse
Two of his brother also died in the Great War, Private Albert Tilley served with the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, he was killed in action on 28th August 1916. Private Leonard Wakelin Tilley served with the Northumberland Fusiliers, he was killed in action on 24th October 1918.
