| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Thomas Knapton was born the 23 Jan 1882 at Ellerby and was baptized at St Mary’s Church, Swine on 2 Apr 1882, the was son of Edward and Betsy Knapton, he had two brothers and 3 sisters. In 1901 Thomas was stationed with the Royal Garrison Artillery in St Helier, Jersey. He was a gunner. According to a newspaper report in 1918 he had been in the Army for 11 years before the war and he had been called up as reservist at the beginning of the war.
On 6 Jul 1915 Thomas married Edith Gertrude Lamplugh at St Nicholas Church, Beverley, he was based at Lydd Camp, Kent. It is known from his medal card that he served with the RGA from 1915 to 1919 and became a Sergeant at some point during the war. On 30 Oct 1918 Thomas was awarded the DCM for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in action. He also received the 15 Star, the British medal and the Victory medal.
After the war Thomas was still involved with the Royal Artillery. In 1939 he was living with his wife in Bradford and was a cleaner of guns and stores with the RA. Thomas died on 25 Jun 1962. He was buried at Queensgate Cemetery, Beverley on 29 Jun 1962
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |