Thomas Henry Blackamore

Had previously served with the Sherwood Foresters. Transferred to RMLI on16/09/1914. Embarked 17/11/1914 and a prisoner of war from 28/02/1915. Died of cardiac paralysis whilst a prisoner of war.

Following is a copy of an article which appeared in the Hucknall Despatch on 26th December 1918 :- Sgt. Thomas Henry Blackamore, 2nd Battalion Royal Marine Light Infantry, was taken prisoner at Oppy Wood, 28th April 1917. The veteran of Gallipoli, where he was wounded in May 1915, did not survive his captivity, dying suddenly on 9th September 1918. “DEATH IN CAPTIVITY. “A Local Soldier's Collapse While Walking in Germany. “Now men are being welcomed from Germany it is lamentable to state that one from this district will never return, for he has died a captive. We refer to Sgt. Thomas Henry Blackamore, of the Royal Marine Light Infantry, who was the husband of a daughter of Mr. H. Rostance, of Hazel grove, Hucknall. “He had been serving with the Forces since September, 1914, and was in the Dardanelles Campaign until that was closed by our War Cabinet, some say unwisely, for the objective was within our grasp [sic], and would have shortened the war by one-third at least. The sergeant was wounded in the hand and shoulder and on recovery went out to Egypt, where he served for a considerable time. Next he was despatched with the Naval Division to Salonica, and afterwards to France, where he served for nearly a year before being taken a prisoner in the big Arras push, near Oppy Wood, which was the scene of very severe fighting, and was only captured at the expense of many valuable lives. “It was on April 28, 1917, when he fell into the hands of the Germans, who on this occasion surrounded the Company and did not show our boys much pity. “His wife had a communication from the Admiralty offering little hope of his life being spared, and three months elapsed before news came to hand concerning him, needless to say, to the great delight of all who knew him. It was afterwards the end of July when the letter arrived, written by himself, informing his wife that he was quite well under the circumstances. “The late Sergt. Blackamore was greatly respected by everyone with whom he came in contact, and had a good reputation among the boys as an N.C.O. Few men have seen more of the fighting in this war than he, and it seems hard that he should die in the enemy's hands after serving his country in such a valiant manner. “We might state that he had only one six days' leave during his period of service, and his wife had to write to the Admiralty to get that granted. There are no children of the marriage. “The following is the copy of a letter received from Corpl. F. Fielder of the Australian Expeditionary Force, giving an account of the circumstances surrounding the death of Sergt. Blackamore. He says: “Dear Mrs. Blackamore, I am writing this letter on behalf of myself and comrades. We regret to inform you that your husband, Sergt. Thomas Blackamore, is dead. He died very suddenly on Monday, September 9, 1918, heart and lung troubles being the cause of death. His death came as a great shock to us all. He arose from his bed early on Monday morning, healthy and in good spirits, as if nothing was wrong with him. He never spoke, or appeared to be in any way sick, but at 10 o'clock he was walking along when he suddenly fell. I regret to say he never rose or spoke again. Thomas was buried three days later in Dollern Cemetery, via Stade. He had a very respected burial, the grave being covered with wreaths;he was a comrade liked by all. We are going to get a cross and railing for the grave. His photos, money, etc., will be forwarded to you. He left a good many photos behind in another camp, and I will ask after them for you later. Being one of his personal pals, I thought it my duty to write, so please inform all his people I deeply regret having to forward you such sad news, and would like to assure you of all his comrades' sincere sympathy.” The former miner, who was living at Warsop at the time of his enlistment in September 1914, is buried in Hamburg Cemetery. Above information is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918