| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Tom Fortes was born in Cherry Tree Lane, Beverley the 25 Oct 1888, he was one of eight children born to Harry Fortes and his wife Mary (nee Spencer). The family was living in Providence Row, Wilbert Lane in 1891, then Mill Lane and later at Clark’s Place, off Wilbert Lane.
Tom attended Minster School and joined the army on the 20 Nov 1903 as a regular soldier, at the age of 15. He served in the 1st Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment, joining them at Shorncliffe Camp near Folkestone, Kent. In 1904 he switched to the 2nd Battalion and served in Burma. He rejoined the 1st in 1909 and spent four years in India, returning to York in 1913. He was promoted to Lance Corporal and Corporal in 1911 and 1914 before reaching the rank of Sergeant on 6 June 1914. Tom married Louisa Kent at Shorncliffe camp in 1904. Soon after the outbreak of war the 1st went to France, arriving there on 10 Sep 1914, as part of 64th Brigade and 21st Division. They were sent north to the Belgian border and were involved in the Battle of Armentieres, in the vicinity of Ypres. On 28 Oct there was a massive German onslaught on lines held by 21st Division. Initially British troops were under pressure but a counterattack involving the “A” and “C” companies was successful and forced a German retreat and recaptured lost trenches. However the successful action had proved costly: 4 officers were killed as were 30 Other Ranks, including Tom, in unknown circumstances. His body was never recovered and he is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing. Tom was awarded the War and Victory medals as well as the 1914 Star and clasp, given to those who operated in France and Belgium under fire from 5 Aug to 22 Nov inclusive. Tom is commemorated on the Hengate War Memorial in Beverley and on the East Riding Memorial in Beverley Minster
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |