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Thomas Phillip Heath

A Private with the 11th Battalion, Thomas died on 9th of April 1918 at the age of 26. 

Thomas was born at Hertford, Hertfordshire, on 11 April 1892, a son of Thomas Philip and Louisa Annie Heath. He was baptised at Saint Andrew’s Church, Hertford, on 5 June 1892. By 1901 his family lived at 121 High Street, Lowestoft, and this was still their home in 1911 when Thomas worked as a wine merchant’s clerk. Later his parents lived at 64 Liverpool Road, Chester, and subsequently at 7 Wortley Terrace, Mundesley, Norfolk.

Thomas volunteered, around October 1914, and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the 6th (Cyclist) Battalion Suffolk Regiment, service number 1441. He was posted to France to serve with the 1/4th Battalion and given service number 43023. Subsequently he served with the 7th Battalion and then the 8thBattalion. By December 1917 Thomas was serving with D Company 9th Battalion. On 19 December 1917 he was admitted to 20 Casualty Clearing Station with suffering with trench feet, and on 28 December he was admitted to 18 General Hospital. Once recovered he returned to the 9th Battalion and in February 1918, when that battalion was disbanded in France, he was posted to the 11th Battalion and served with X Platoon in C Company. 

On 5 April 1918 the 11th Battalion occupied billets at Erquinghem, France. The Germans began bombing Erquignhem on 9 April and the battalion immediately moved into front line trenches in anticipation of an attack which came from the direction of Fleurbaux, but was driven back. A second attack from the Feurbaix area took place on 10 April and later that day the battalion were ordered to withdraw to north of the River Lys. A further withdrawal on the 11th was hampered by sniper and machine-gun fire but the battalion reached the Armentieres-Bailleul railway. On the 12th the battalion moved into attack formation about one mile south-east of Bailleul and late in the morning became involved in the fighting. The next day there was a heavy artillery bombardment and the enemy attacked in force from Outerstern and the battalion had to fall back. During the 14th the battalion took up positions near Bailleul railway station and late in the day they were relieved and marched to Meulehook. On the 15th due to enemy advances they were again in the front line. The next day they were patrolling and digging in. During the 17th there was heavy shelling and attempts by the enemy to advance. The battalion were relieved at 2 a.m. on April 18. 

What precisely happened to Thomas is not known. He was reported missing at some point between 9 April and 19 April 1918 and was later presumed to have been killed in action between those dates. 

The battalion’s casualties between 9 and 19 April were:
Officers: four killed; four died of wounds; five missing, ten wounded
Other ranks: 39 killed; three died of wounds; 272 missing; 157 wounded

See house on LowestoftOldAndNow.org 

Lived at

Thomas Heath
121
High Street
Lowestoft
United Kingdom

52.4803068, 1.7558394

CountryOfService
United Kingdom
BranchService
Army
Regiment
Suffolk Regiment
ServiceNumber
43023
Burial/Memorial
Belgium
PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL
Panel 3.

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