Thomas Arthur Bruin

A Private with the 5th Battalion, Thomas died on 22nd of January 1945 aged 19. 

Thomas was born at Crayford, Kent, on 10 February 1925, a son of Frank Charles and Winifred Bruin. He was baptised at Saint Paulinus Chapel, Crayford, on 1 March 1925. In 1939 his family lived at 48 Mill Place, Crayford. 

Thomas married Pamela Dorothy Rose Houghton at Lowestoft in 1944. She lived at 5 Turner's Cottages, Saint John's Road, Lowestoft. Pamela remarried in 1946.

Thomas served with the 5th Battalion Highland Light Infantry and his battalion landed at Belgium in October 1944. Between 13 and 26 January 1945 the battalion were involved in Operation Blackcock, an attempt to push the German 15th Army across the rivers Roer and Wurm in order to move the Allied front line further into Germany. 
Thomas was killed in action during Operation Blackcock, one of three men of his battalion to be killed in action on 22 January.