Thomas Kilwick Claxton
A Sapper with 250 Tunnelling Company, Thomas died on 4th of October 1917 at the age of 34.
Thomas was born at Lowestoft on 12 July 1883, a son of Robert Crane and Elizabeth Claxton. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft, on 2 September 1883. In 1891 his family lived at 2 Wide’s Score. By 1901 they were living at 121 Wollaston Road and Thomas was a coal dealer, probably working with his father.
On 5 July 1908 Thomas married Alice Maud Davis at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft. Thomas was a seaman living at 121 Wollaston Road, and Alice lived at 28 Kent Road. In 1911 they lived at 22 Avondale Road and by August 1914 at Exhibition Stores, 87 High Street. Later Alice lived at 3 Mizpah Cottages, Bridge Road, Oulton Broad.
Before the First World War Thomas had served for five years with the Royal Garrison Artillery Volunteers.
Thomas was a licensed victualler when he enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft on 29 August 1914. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 3/9504. He was posted to the 3rd Battalion on 2 September 1914, and he arrived in France on 10 October 1914 and joined the 2nd Battalion on 5 November. On 15 September 1915 Thomas received a gunshot wound to his hand and was admitted to 52 Field Ambulance
On 9 April 1916 Thomas volunteered to be transferred to the Royal Engineers, service number 156345. He stated, in his application, that his trade was ‘excavator’. He was re-mustered as a tunneller, on 23 June 1916, and joined 250th Tunnelling Company. Thomas was appointed paid Lance Corporal on 3 December 1916. In late 1916 250 Tunnelling Company began excavating the tunnel that was detonated during the Battle of Messines, in June 1917, and is known as the Lone Pine, or Spanbroekmolen, Crater.
On 22 September 1917, 250 Tunnelling Company were based near Zillebeke. The company war diary gives no details of what happened on that date, but Second Lieutenant Stephens and two men were killed and nine others, including Thomas, wounded. Thomas received a gunshot wound to his back and a compound fracture of his left femur. He was admitted to (No 7?) Canadian General Hospital, Etaples, where he died from his wounds.
Thomas’ brother in law, Leonard Mummery, served in the Royal Naval Reserve and died in 1917.
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Thomas Claxton
87
High Street
Lowestoft
United Kingdom
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