| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Tom Prest was born in Beverley the 1 Oct 1896 and baptised along with his sister Margaret at Beverley Minster the 19 Dec 1896, the children of James and Alice. The family lived off Keldgate, Beverley and his father James was employed as a tanner's labourer. In 1901 the family were living at Grovenor Terrace, Keldgate. The family were still living at the same addres in 1911, without James who died in 1904, Alice married John Brusby later that year.
Tom enlisted in the 5th Yorks Regiment on 18 Apr 1915. The Yorks made up the 150th Brigade, 50th Division and were involved in the Battles of the Somme in 1916. Tom was killed aged 19 on 17 Sep 1916 during the battle of Flers-Courcelette. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing in France. A photograph of Tom was published in the Beverley Guardian on 28 Oct 1916 and again on 28 Jul 1917 when his death was confirmed.
In 'The East Yorkshire Regiment in the Great War' by Edward Wyrall he gives an account of the Battle of Flers-Coucelette.
`The 5th Yorks (Green Howards) and the East Yorkshire Regiment were two of the regiments making up the 150th Brigade. Tanks were used for the first time. At 6am on 15 September the guns opened up subjecting them to terrific shell fire. At 6.20 am the signal was given to advance'.
The attack was a failure, and casualties were high and Tom Prest made the ultimate sacrifice.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |