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Tom Skinner, also known as Tom Skinner Brigham, was born in Beverley the 11 Dec 1888 the son of Charles Arnott Skinner, a saddle and harness maker, and Annie Brigham. Tom had four sisters and six brothers. After leaving school in 1903, Tom was indentured as an apprentice in his father's saddlery business. A keen sportsman, 'Tommy' Skinner was a member of Beverley Rugby League club and before the outbreak of the Great War played for Hull Kingston Rovers. The Hull Daily Mail, reporting his departure to join the Army, described him as a 'most promising forward'. He was the first swimming instructor of Beverley Swimming Club.
Tom Skinner Brigham enlisted in the 2nd/1st West Riding Field Artillery, Territorial Force on 6 Dec 1915. The unit was later designated CCCX (310th) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, in the 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division. Tom, with the rank of Saddler, served in 'C' Battery and was promoted twice in 1916, first to Corporal Saddler, then six weeks later to Sergeant Saddler. His unit disembarked at Le Havre on 7 Jan 1917, and was based in the Pas de Calais area of France. Tom was admitted to hospital in Doullens (Somme) with an ankle injury on 28 Mar 1918 and spent the next two months in Military Hospitals in Northern France. After the Armistice, Sergeant Brigham served in Germany with the British Army of the Rhine and on 8 May 1919 he was at Gemund, near Cologne. He arrived back in England the following day and was subsequently demobilized on 13 Jun 1919 at Charlton, London.
Tom returned to Beverley to resume his occupation as a saddler and harness maker at his premises at 14 Lairgate. He was a Pasture Master of Beverley. Tom married Marjorie Annie Thompson, at St Peter's Church, Woodmansey, on 14 Aug 1940 and became step-father to Marjorie's son, Peter Andrew Thompson, a Warrant Officer (Pilot) in the Royal Air Force in the 1940s.
Marjorie died in Hull on 6 Nov 1950, aged 53. Tom died in Hull on 11 Mar 1969, aged 80. They are both buried in Queensgate Cemetery, Beverley.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |