Thomas Randle
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Thomas was born in 1892 at Stonebroom, Derbyshire and was the son of the late Absalom a coal miner and Mary Randle née Vardy of Sutton-in-Ashfield. His father Absalom was born in Warwickshire in 1860 and his mother Mary Ward Vardy was born in 1863 in North Wingfield, Derbyshire. Their marriage was recorded in the Chesterfield registration area in 1881. They went on to have 9 children however sadly 1 died in infancy prior to 1911. Their surviving children were:- Sarah J 1883, George 1884, Lilly 1890, Thomas 1892, Annie 1894, Absalom 1896, Charles b1898 and Ada b1903, all the children were born in Stonebroom. In the 1911 census the family are living at 24 Carsic Lane, Sutton in Ashfield, and are shown as Absalom 51 yrs a coal miner, head of the family, living with his wife Mary 48 yrs and their children Thomas 19 yrs a coal miner, Absalom 15 yrs coal miner-pony driver, Charles 13 yrs coal miner-pony driver and Ada Elizabeth 8 yrs.
He enlisted on 20th January 1915 and went to France in July being transferred from the Notts & Derby to the Cheshire Regiment. He was killed in action on 3rd October 1915 during the battle of Loos. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated at the Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.
His elder younger brother Absalom enlisted at Mansfield on 2nd September 1914. He went out to France in 29th July 1915 and was killed in action on 27th July 1916. His younger brother Charles enlisted at Pontefract on 24th March 1915. He gave his age on enlistment as 19 yrs and 210 days, which of course was incorrect he was actually only 17 yrs of age being born in 1898. He went on to serve with the Yorks and Lancaster Regiment for 127 days until his real age was discovered and he was discharged from the Army on 9th July 1915. The caption with the photograph of Thomas Randle which appeared in the Nottingham Post reads: 'Pte T Randle, 4 Carsic Lane, Sutton in Ashfield, whose sister lives in Hyson Green, Nottingham, killed in action October 3rd.'
