Thomas Shenton
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
He was the son of William Shenton, a bricklayer (b. Lincoln) and Annie Shenton (b. Grantham), a lace worker. In 1901 William (45) and Annie (43) were living at 5 Richmond Street, Nottingham, in the parish of St Paul with their five children: Charles (17), Kate (15, b. Sheffield), William (14, b. Leeds), Tom (13, b. Leeds) and Alfred (11, b. Leeds). Also in the household was a boarder, William Dennis (47, b. Grantham), who was also a bricklayer. The eldest son, Charles, joined the army in 1904 and two years later in 1906 Thomas joined the King's Royal Rifle Corps. His next of kin were given as his parents, William and Annie, of 4 Woodland Street, Sneinton, Nottingham, and his brother Charles who was serving with KOYLI. In 1911 his widowed mother, working from home as a lace clipper, and his brothers Charles and Alfred, together with a boarder, Fanny Tacey, were still living at 4 Woodland Street. The census form has an entry about the number of children Annie had which is crossed out but is still legible: seven born alive of whom four were still living, suggesting that either Kate or William had died after the 1901 census. Thomas married Annie Bellamy (spinster) at Sneinton Parish Church on 3 January 1914. The witnesses to the marriage, which was conducted by Rev Cecil Page, were his brother, Alfred Shenton, and Ada Bennett. Thomas and Annie's daughter, also named Annie, was born in Nottingham on 27 June 1914. Thomas' brother, Charles, who had left the army by 1911, served in the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry during the war and died of wounds in France on 25 September 1914, leaving a widow, Florence Gertrude.
Thomas was 18y. 9m. old when he enlisted in the KRRC on 12 July 1906 on a 12 year engagement (9 years with the Colours and 3 years with the Reserve). He joined at Winchester the following day and served at home until 22 January 1908. He then served in India until 1 February 1910 returning to home service on 2 February 1910. He served in France from 13 August 1914; service records suggest he served continuously from 1906 until his death from injuries received in action. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial (Panels 51 & 53). He qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal. He served in the army a total of 8 years 107 days. During his career he was granted 1 Good Conduct Badge on 8 August 1909 which was forfeited on 15 June 1910 then restored on 2 August 1911. A number of offences are recorded on his Regimental Conduct Sheet: Colchester, 2 April 1907 - (1) breaking out of barracks after tattoo (2) Breaking into barracks about 11.45pm (3) drunk. Punishment 8 days CB [confined to barracks]; Colchester, 6 August 1907 - Drunk on parade at 8.30pm. Fined 2/6d. 7 days CB; Shorncliffe, 15 June 1910 - Committing a nuisance in his bed. 8 days CB; Shorncliffe, 1 August 1910 - (1) Not complying with an order, (2) Making an improper reply to a NCO. 10 days CB.
His brother Private Charles Shenton, 2nd Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, died of wounds in No. 3 General Hospital, St. Nazaire, on 25th September 1914. He is buried in St. Nazaire (Toutes-Aides) Cemetery. Nottingham Evening Post notice with photograph, 19 November 1914: 'Rifleman T Shenton, 1st King's Royal Rifles, 21 Woodhead Place, Beaumont Street, Nottingham. Killed in action October 26th. His brother, Charles, KOYLI, died of wounds on September 25th.' His service documents include a letter from the War Office dated 15 May 1915 which authorised the payment of a pension of 15/- for Thomas' widow and child with effect from 10 May 1915.
