Peter Wise and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-
Thomas the son of William Thomas and Jane (nee Smith) was born at Barnard Castle in 1888. He was their youngest child. The couple had married in the spring of 1879 and had 5 children together although 1 unfortunately died.
The 1891 census shows the family living at Wood Street, Barnard Castle. Thomas’s siblings were John, Hannah and Robert. Their father worked as a general labourer.
By 1901 the family had moved to Galgate in the town. Father William was now a cartman for a contractor whilst his son Robert found work as a greengrocer’s errand boy. Thomas was still at school.
Once again the family had moved by 1911 and were now living at 28 King Street. William remained a cartman for a builder, Robert was now a platelayer for the North Eastern Railway Company and Thomas worked as a labourer at the iron foundry.
There was also an addition to the family as a granddaughter, Winifred Rose, had arrived about 1907.
Perhaps life was uneventful for Thomas as by 1912 he was working as a blacksmith’s labourer. For whatever reason, he decided to enlist into the army for 4 years Reserve Service. He signed his papers at Barnard Castle on 16th May 1912 and was posted to 6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry for a time. His service number was possibly 1667.
His papers show him to be 5’2” in height, with vision and physical development being good. His faith was Church of England.
Thomas’s initial military attachment was with the 2/4th Lincolns (no. 5916) serving in Ireland. On 20th September 1916 he was transferred to the 1/4th King’s Own Royal Lancashire Regiment. His service number was 27226.
On 1st October 1916 his sergeant noticed that whilst attending divine services Thomas was inattentive. He was reported for this misdemeanour and was punished with 5 days confinement to camp.
Soon after this incident (22/10/1916) Thomas was admitted to 39 Casualty Clearing Station with suspected dysentery. After being transferred again to 22 General Hospital the dysentery was confirmed. Later he was moved on again to 24 General Hospital at Etaples.
He was wounded in January 1917 and was cared for at Mont Dore Military Hospital at Bournemouth. He was allocated a wound stripe to be worn.
On 23rd March 1917 Thomas was granted a furlough to go home to 28 King Street from 1st to the 10th April 1917.
He eventually went to France 22nd May 1917. He was reported missing on 20th November 1917 and was deemed to have been killed in action on that date due to the lapse of time having occurred.
His total service amounted to 5 years 199 days.
Recipient of the Victory Medal and British War Medal.
Thomas Chandler is remembered at Barnard Castle on B135.02, B135.23 and B135.25
