| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Thomas was born in Beverley the 20 May 1894, the son of Charles Constable, a bricklayer and Alice (nee Lamb). In 1901 Charles worked at the East Riding Asylum, Walkington. Thomas was brought up at Union Mill, Westwood; Grayburn Lane, Westwood Road and by the startof the war on Landress Lane, Beverley. Thomas worked as an errand boy, and was also a member of the Beverley Church Lads’ Brigade from late 1908 until Jul 1909, but was discharged “because of his inability to attend weekly drills on account of work”. He became a shipwright’s apprentice at the Grovehill shipyard, Beverley.
On 14 Sep 1914 Thomas signed up for military service. He joined the 5th Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment (Territorial Force) as a Private but at the start of 1916 was transferred to the (Northumbrian ) Royal Field Artillery (TA) and then to the Northumbrian Divisional Ammunition Column (TA). On 20 Mar 1916 he returned to work full time at the shipyard. He rejoined and having agreed to overseas service arrived in France on 4 Sep 1916. He served as a gunner in the RFA (TA). Thomas left the army on 14 Dec 1918. He was awarded the War and Victory medals.
Thomas married Edith Annie Ibson on 19 May 1918 at Driffield Parish Church, their daughter Ethel was born on 25 May 1919. They initially lived at River Head, Driffield. Thomas moved back to Beverley to work as a shipwright, and where their children were born, Jack in 1921 and Kathleen in 1924. The family moved to Hull and in 1939 were living at Adderbury Grove. Thomas and Edith retired to Bridlington. Thomas died there aged 64 in 1958; Edith died in 1979.
Includes information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |