| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Thomas Straker was born in beverley in 1896 the son of Thomas and Eliza Straker, a blacksmith working in the shipyard, the family lived in Spencer Street and then Laundress Lane. In 1911 aged 15 Thomas worked as an errand boy for a draper.
Thomas enlisted with 5th Yorkshire Regiment arriving in France on 1 Nov 1915. In Apr 1916 his photograph appeared in the Beverley Guardian alongside brothers Richard, serving with the Coldstream Guards and Ernest, training with 5th Yorkshires. The caption noted Tom had been wounded.
According to Tom's Medal Roll, his service with 5th Yorkshires ended on 26 Apr 1916. In 1917 Tom had a new service number, joining the 10th London Regiment, part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, having suffered serious losses in the Darnadelles. Throughout 1917 and 1918 the 10th Londoners, faced the Turkish army, with battles at Gaza, Ras el'Ain, Berukin and Sharon, ending their war in Beirut where the Turks signed the Armistice on 31 Oct 1918.
Tom returned to Beverley and on 26 Apr 1922 he married Constance Violet Wood in Beverley Minster. He was working as a motor driver, living at 77 Lairgate, brother Henry was a witness. In 1939 Tom and Constance were living in Ullet Road, Liverpool and Tom was working as a private chauffeur. Tom's death is registered in 1968 in the Wirral, Cheshire.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |