Thomas Frederick Adlington, Age 21
Lance Corporal, 70542 Machine Gun Corps 42nd brigade
Thomas is buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, grave reference XXII. A. 17.
Machine Gun Corps Cap Badge.
Thomas was the youngest son of Mr John and Mrs Anne Adlington of
Doseley.
Along with his brother Private A E Adlington, they had both, before
enlisting been employed at the Horsehay works. Thomas had
volunteered alongside his brother and served in France for a long
period; both had been connected with the C.E.M’S and other
parochial organisations at Doseley, the members of which had
learnt with the greatest grief of the loss of the first of their number
on active service when Thomas died.
Thomas had been wounded in action on 22nd October 1917 during the third battle of
Ypres which has gone down in history as one of the most horrific battles of the First
war; it was more commonly known as the battle of Passchendaele. Thomas died of his
wounds on the 26th October 1917 and is buried in the Lijssenthoek Cemetery grave
reference XXILA17.
Lieut. J. N. Slaney, writing to Thomas's bereaved
parents, said, "He died in hospital of wounds received
four days previously. At the time he was wounded he was
doing his duty like the brave lad he always was. Officers,
NCOs and men alike mourn his loss, as he was so cheerful
on all occasions. Being a Shropshire man like myself, I
always took special interest in him”.
At the parish church on a Sunday evening the vicar
referred to the sad occurrence and spoke in high terms
of the gallant soldier who had laid down his life. The
deepest sympathy of the whole parish was extended to
the relatives in their great loss.
Thomas Enlisted at Wellington on the 9th of November 1914, aged 19.
Inscription added to head stone by, Mr. A. E. Adlington, Doseley, Dawley, Salop.
Make Him O Lord to be Numbered with Thy Saints in Glory Everlasting.
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| Victory Medal | British War Medal | 1914-15 Star Medal |