Tom Wass
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Thomas, known as Tom, was the son of George and Sarah Wass (née Hunt). His father was born in 1861 at Wessington, Derbyshire, and his mother Sarah Hunt was born in 1866 Tupton, Chesterfield. They were married in 1885 (reg. Chesterfield) and by 1911 had had 13 children, three of whom had died in infancy or early childhood. Their surviving children were: William b. 1885, Annie Dorothy b. 1887, Alice Millicent b. 1888, James Harold b. 1889, Mary Ellen b. 1891, Hannah b. 1893 (reg. J/F/M), George b. 1894, Tom b. 1896, Joseph (Joe) b. 1898 and Fred b. 1901 (reg. J/F/M). All the children were born in Tupton except for Fred who was born in Hucknall. George and Sarah may have had two children after 1911, both of whom died young: Gladys b. 1903 d. 1904 and Henry b. 1905 d. 1907 (births registered Basford, mother's maiden name Hunt.) In 1891, George, a coal miner, and Sarah were living at Madins Houses, Tupton Lane, Tupton, with their five children, William (5), Annie (4), Alice (3), James (1) and Mary (under 1). Also in the home on the night of the census was George's father, James (60) who was also a coal miner. The family had moved to 47 Spring Bank, Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, by 1901: George, Sarah, William a coalpit pony driver, Annie a cigar maker apprentice, Alice, James, Mary, Hannah (8), George (6), Thomas (4), Joseph (2) and Fred (under one year). Only five children were living with their parents in 1911 when the family home was at 51 Truman Street, Hucknall: Mary and Hannah who were motor car fitters, Tom a coal miner ganger (pony driver), Joe and Fred. William, a coal miner hewer, had married Sarah Woolley in 1905 and in 1911 they and their four children were also living on Truman Street. Annie had married Eli Purser in 1909 and she, her husband and their two children were also living in Hucknall. Aiice, her husband of six years (named only as 'WH Fraser' on the census, occ. coal miner), and their son were living in Goldthorpe, Rotherham, Yorkshire. Also in the household was Alice's younger brother George who was a miner pony driver. Tom enlisted in 1914 naming his parents of 2 Byron Street, Hucknall, and brother William, also of Hucknall, as his next of kin. Tom's parents were living at 29 Bestwood Road Butler's Hill, Hucknall Torkard, by December 1917 when his personal property was returned to his mother. His father George may have died in 1931 and his mother Sarah in 1944.
10th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) The 10th (Service) Battalion was raised at Derby in September 1914 and served in France from 14 July 1915 when it moved to Arras. It saw action in the First and Second Battles of the Scarpe (April-May 1917). Thomas enlisted on 27 August 1914 aged 18 years 250 days. After a year on Home service he was drafted to the BEF France on 25 August 1915. The following year on 8 July he was wounded in action (shrapnel bullet, axilla [armpit]). The details on his service record of the hospital where he was first treated are illegible but he was transferred to 25th General Hospital, Abbeville, on 11 July and on 16 July to a hospital ship. He arrived in the UK on 18 July and was treated at a War Hospital near Cardiff until his discharge on 9 November 1916 (115 days). He was posted to France on 25 February 1917. Four months later on 3 July 1917 Tom died from wounds received in action, aged 20. He is buried at Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension, France (grave ref. Plot III. Row E, Grave 3). Tom had served for 2 years 311 days. He qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension (extract): 'Aubigny-en-Artois is a village approximately 15 kms north-west of Arras. Before March, 1916, Aubigny was in the area of the French Tenth Army ... From March 1916 to the Armistice, Aubigny was held by Commonwealth troops and burials were made in the Extension until September 1918. The 42nd Casualty Clearing Station buried in it during the whole period, the 30th in 1916 and 1917, the 24th and 1st Canadian in 1917 (during the capture of Vimy Ridge by the Canadian Corps) and the 57th in 1918.' (www.cwgc.org)
CWGC: 'Son of Sarah Wass, of 29, Bestwood Rd., Butler's Hill, Hucknall, Notts. Born at New Tupton, Chesterfield.' CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Too dearly loved to be forgotten mother and brothers' Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his mother Sarah was his sole legatee.
