Thomas Edward Thomlinson

Key Information

Name: Thomas Edward Thomlinson

DoB: June 3 1870

Regt: Corporal RTS 4020 Rough-rider in Remounts, R.A.S.C.

DoD: Died at the Eastern Military Hospital, Brighton, Aug. 8, 1917.

Academic Career: In 1884 he was readmitted to Carlisle Grammar School, having been first admitted in 1882. In 1885-6 he went to Repton School.

Biographical Information: son of John Thomlinson, Esq., Englethwaite, Ootehill.

Family Background:

Thomas was the son of John and Emma Thomlinson and was the middle one of three boys. His father was described as a landowner and alabaster proprietor employing 75 men and two women in 1881.

In 1891, his father is listed as a cement manufacturer, born at Hayton near Carlisle, while his mother was born in Pembrokeshire. The family was living at Englethwaite Hall at Wetheral.
Academic Record:
War Service:

Thomas has the distinction of being the oldest casualty of the school in the Great War. Clearly he felt he had to contribute and he became a “Rough-rider” for the Remounts Army Service Corps, which involved the finding and breaking of horses suitable for the war. The cavalry was being used less in front line action, but horses were still in great demand as transport animals moving everything to the Front from water carts to artillery. Those who worked in this area tended to be older more experienced soldiers who often had experience in the Boer War. This should have been a safe occupation for Thomas – although some horses were unruly, and even dangerous – but he was not to see the war to its conclusion.

Thomas died at the Eastern Military Hospital, Brighton, of an aneurism and heart failure on August 8, 1917.
Battalion:
Other:

In 1911 Thomas was working as a journalist in Lambeth. He was 4o years old and married to Ethel May, 33, an actress. She had two children prior to their marriage who were living with them – Gladys Amy aged 15, also an actress, and Harley Victor aged 13, at school.

The family had the following inscribed on his gravestone ” Sleep till shadows take their flight. The bugle sounds dearest, goodnight”.
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