Thomas Frederick Christopher Rainbird

A Rifleman with 1/6th Bn., Thomas died on 23rd of July 1917 at the age of 35.

Thomas was born at Lowestoft on 13 June 1881, a son of (Arthur) Charles and (Harriet) Rachel Rainbird. he was baptised at Saint John's Church, Lowestoft, on 1 July 1881 and his family lived at 11 Windsor, Mill Road, Lowestoft. In 1891 they were still living at 11 Mill Road. Later his father lived at Heath Farm Lodge, Railway Cottages, Oulton Broad. 

By 1901 Thomas was lodging at 30-32 London Road, Southwark, and working as a pawnbroker's assistant. 

On 17 April 1905 Thomas married Kate Everett at Saint George's Church, Camberwell. Thomas was a shop assistant living at 5 Cunard Street, and Kate lived at 75 Gloucester Road. By 1911 they were living at 103 Tooting Bec Road, Upper Tooting, and Thomas was a pawn broker. Later Kate lived at 18 Beechdale Road, Brixton Hill, London. 

Thomas enlisted in the Army at Lambeth. He joined the London Regiment and served with the 3/6th Battalion, number 6560, before being posted to France. He arrived in France on 25 December 1916 and joined the 1/6th Battalion. In 1917 he was renumbered 323415. 

On 8 July 1917 the 1/6th Battalion marched from Ontario Camp to relive the 21st London Regiment in a trench position known as Spoilbank. The Battalion War Diary for 23 July 1917 reads:

Battalion in the left sub-sector of Spoil Bank Sector. Artillery activity on both sides during the whole 24 hours. At 10 p.m. Battalion carried out a small raid:
1. Commanders 2nd Lieutenant A G Sampson and 2nd Lieutenant E P Shepherd
2. Composition: Two officers 55 other ranks
3. Objective: To raid Oblique Trench and the wood in 05d with a view to securing prisoners, machine-guns and identifications generally.
4. ACTION
The left party commanded by 2nd Lieutenant Sampson attacked Oblique Trench advancing from the left front of our own position. The party crawled out in small groups and took up a position as close to the barrage as possible forming forward into extended order and at zero +5, in the lifting of the barrage, ruched the enemy trench, taking the enemy by surprise. A few showed fight and were killed and in addition several were killed by enemy shell-fire after being captured. A pre-arranged signal was given for the party to return, and also show them the direction of our line.  
Oblique Trench was found to be in bad repair, but the wire is still in moderate condition. 29 prisoners were brought in alive, a few of whom were wounded. They belonged to a Bavarian unit recently arrived from Galicia. The success was almost entirely due to the quickness and the resolution with which this party ruched their objective. No machine-guns were located, and in the limited time available it was not possible to make a thorough search. No machine-gun fire was directed at this party. The barrage in front of this party was very uniform; few shells falling short.   
Shortly after the assault the enemy returned to his trenches and occupied two or three posts along the line. A N.C.O. was sent out to find out whether the enemy had returned. he located a small post and bombed the enemy out of it. 
The enemy's artillery fired on his own and our trench during the raid.
Five other ranks of this party were wounded.

The right party, commanded by 2nd Lieutenant Shepherd, crawled out at zero +5 and took up positions from which to assault the wood in 05d. At zero they moved forward and when half-way across to their objective the barrage lifted. The enemy proved to be on the alert and opened with rifle fire and bombs from the trench running through the wood. The trench was reached by the enemy offered a stubborn resistance, and proved to be in considerable numbers, and when the time came to retire the melee was still in progress. The party was therefore withdrawn without obtaining identifications. The failure of this party to reach their objective on the lifting of the barrage was doubtless the cause of the non-success of this party, the enemy having time to recover all and man his trenches. 
The casualties of this party were three killed, four wounded.

5. RESULT
29 prisoners captured
Casualties: 3 killed, nine wounded. Most of the wounded were sleight.
Casualties (all day): Captain Gilks and 2nd Lieutenant Sampson were wounded but remained at duty.
8 Other ranks killed, 16 Other ranks wounded, 4 Other ranks gassed.      

In fact ten men of the Battalion, including Thomas, were killed on 23 July. 

Note: The Commonwealth War Graves website records incorrectly give Thomas' battalion as the 3/6th London Regiment. His correct battalion, the 1/6th, is confirmed in the Army Register of Soldiers' Effects and the original Commonwealth War Graves paperwork also shows this battalion.