Thomas Furber, Age 20

Private, 12221, 1st Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry.

K.S.L.I Regiment Cap Badge.

Thomas was the son of Mr & Mrs Amelia Owen of 12 Brandlee, Dawley and the stepbrother of Private James Owen.

Thomas had worked at the Kemberton Colliery before he joined up and had spent a few months in England training before embarkation to France. The members of the Brandlee Chapel had presented Thomas with a khaki hymnbook before he left. Thomas had seen action in many engagements during which in one of them he had been seriously wounded and after a long spell of treatment, including a time in a Manchester Hospital had returned to his unit.

Thomas was killed in action on the 11th January 1917 during a time when the battalion were holding trenches N/E of Vermelles during the trench line cycle of 4 days in the line - 4 days in support and 4 days in reserve.

Tom's mother received official news from the War office on the Sunday morning (21st Jan 1917), His stepbrother James also wrote home from the trenches at the time saying "I have bad news for you, Tom was killed on Thursday 11th Jan - he was shot through the heart by a German sniper, Cpl Frank Buttery first told me about it and I have found out it is only too true." James at the time found it hard to write as he was suffering from a hand injury caused by a bayonet.

Extra Notes:
Thomas was the first son of James Furber and Amelia (Maiden name Clay), Thomas was born in 1896 and christened 21st Jun 1896 at Dawley-Parva.

They lived at Stony Hill, Dawley in 1901, he was aged 4 then, his father died in 1900 and was buried at St Luke’s Church, Doseley, 22nd Nov 1900, his mother remarried James Owen, a Widower with children.

He lived with his family at Brandlee Dawley until at least 1911, Thomas was 15 years old in 1911, When WW1 broke out Thomas was 18 and he joined up at Wellington on the 24th July 1915.

WWI Medal Rolls Index Card

Inscription added to head stone by: Mrs Amelia Owen, 12 Brandlee, Dawley, Salop.

Those Miss Him Most Who Loved Him Best Mother, Sally Harry And Family

Thomas lies buried in the Vermelles British Cemetery in grave V.E.39

Commonwealth War Graves
Buried Vermelles British Cemetery

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Victory Medal	British War Medal	1914-15 Star Medal