Thomas Tracey Aldous

A Sergeant with 1st Aircraft Supply Depot, Thomas died on 23rd of September 1918 aged 27. 

Thomas was born at Hulver, Suffolk, in 1891, a son of John and Emily Aldous. In 1901 his family lived at The Police Station, Earl Soham, where his father was a Police Sergeant. In 1911 his family lived at Albert Road, Framlingham, and Thomas was a carpenter’s apprentice. Later his family lived at Church Road, Kessingland.

Thomas was a carpenter and joiner when he volunteered and enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps on 20 September 1915. He embarked for France on 2 May 1916 and joined 1 Aircraft Depot. On 1 September he was promoted to Air Mechanic 1st Class. He was promoted to Corporal on 1 March 1917. On 1 November he was promoted to Sergeant and was transferred to 1 Aircraft Supply Depot, Marquise, where he worked with the aeroplane repair section. His military trade was Rigger (Aero). He joined the Royal Air Force, on its formation, on 1 April 1918. 

On 23 September 1918 the aerodrome at Marquise was subject to prolonged air attack and over five tonnes of bombs were dropped. Thomas suffered bomb wounds and a fractured left leg and died at 14 General Hospital, Wimereux. The raid led to the death of 46 people, and 27 aircraft were destroyed and 46 damaged.

Note: some records state Thomas was killed in action, and some give his date of death as 6 October.