Robert Thom, Age 26

Lance Corporal, 907460, 102nd Battalion (Central Ontario Regt.) Canadian Infantry.

Canada. 195th Battalion (Regina)

Robert had been born in Albrighton (nr. Wolverhampton) Shropshire, on the 9th February 1891 and was the son of James & Ann Thorn.

According to what could be found out at some point of time he had immigrated to Canada where he had a farm, which he had left behind to enlist in March 1916. At the time of his enlistment his next of kin was listed as his father who was living at Heyville house, Dawley, hence his name being on the Dawley Memorial.

Robert was severely wounded in action and never recovered dying in hospital in England on the 28th May 1917. He was buried at St Phillip’s Church, Pennfields, Wolverhampton in grave D. 125; at his funeral he was given full military honours with a firing party attending from Brereton camp.

Robert Thom.

Extra info:
The cap badge Robert has on in the photo is of the Canada. 195th Battalion (Regina) WW1 Canadian Expeditionary Force, and his father is on their regimental register address Dawley, Salop, England, so must have been transferred to the 102th at some time after joining up.

Robert although born at Albrighton was baptised at Ketley Bank, Shropshire on the 9th March 1891, on the 1891 and 1901 census the family were living at Upper Penn, Wolverhampton, he was with his parents James and Annie Thom who both came from Scotland, Robert’s mother died September the 14th 1905 and was buried in the family grave at St. Philip Churchyard Penn Fields, James remarried in 1910 to Christian Kaye Franklin, on the 1911 census the family had moved to 1 Crescent Road, Wellington, Salop, Robert was not living there at that time.

Heyville house, Dawley, is number 69, King Street, (the old council offices) in the 1911 census Isabella Wooding was living there, I can’t find anything about the Thom family living in Dawley except when Robert’s father died on the 19th of November 1919 his death registration was at Madeley, Shropshire, (all Dawley BMD are done at Madeley at that time) but James was buried with his first wife and son Robert at St. Philip Penn Fields.

The family grave at St. Philip Churchyard Penn Fields.

Robert's name on the family grave.

Commonwealth War Graves
Buried St. Philip Penn Fields

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Victory Medal	British War Medal