Photo: Derek Haynes

Derek Haynes has provided the following:

Thomas was the son of Lydia Boomer, who was originally from Maryport, Cumberland. His birth was registered in June 1907. His mother was employed as a Ropery Worker. It must have been a tough start to family life for Lydia: at the time of the 1911 census she was a single mother in the Workhouse, which was situated in Hylton Road, Sunderland, with two children. Along with Thomas was another son Barnard/Bernard, who had been born around 1910 and was eight months old when the census was taken. In the March 1913 Lydia married Andrew Gilmore, and they went on to have four children: Caroline born March 1913; Thomas C. born June 1914; Lydia born September 1918 but who sadly died on the 2nd March 1919 aged only 8 months, Isabella born March 1922.

All the above births were registered in Sunderland.

Thomas and his brother did not take Andrew’s surname when their mother married, but continued to be known as Boomer.

Tragedy struck the family again when, on the 19th April 1926, Lydia aged only 42 years died in Highfield Hospital and was laid to rest on the 22nd April 1926 in Southwick Cemetery.

1933 saw happier times for Thomas when, on the 17th April, he married Florence Ena Shaw at St. Columba Church, Southwick. On the marriage record Thomas gives his father’s name as Barnet Boomer (Deceased); it would appear that Thomas used that name for his father as a name of convenience, therefore avoiding the stigma of being illegitimate. At the time of his marriage Thomas was employed as a Miner.

By 1939 Florence was residing at 9 Thirlwell Terrace, Southwick with two of their children, Edith M., born December 1934 and Margaret R. born September 1937. Thomas was not at home - it could be by this time that he had already enlisted. There is no access to his service records so it cannot be said for certain when he did enlist.

It is recorded that Thomas enlisted into the 1st Battalion Green Howards (Yorkshire Regiment) and given the service number 4384505. He attained the rank of Corporal, whilst as a Lance Corporal on active service on the 10th May 1940 he was wounded.

Another two children would be born to the couple, Thomas H. born June 1941, and Norman born in June 1945.

Two years after the war ended and the birth of his youngest child, tragedy dealt another blow to the Boomer family, Thomas sadly died in the General Hospital after spending time in Highfield Infectious Diseases Hospital. The date was 13th May 1947. At the time of his death Thomas was employed as a Postman, he may possibly have given up mining because of his health.

The following announcement appeared in the Sunderland Echo 15/05/1947:

Hospital for Infectious Diseases on May 13 aged 39 years, Thomas Henry, beloved husband of Florence Ena. Internment Southwick Cemetery on Friday, cortege leaving residence (9 Thirlwell Terrace) at 2.0 for service in St. Columba’s Church. Friends kindly invited.

Thomas was laid to rest on the 16th May 1947 in Section Grave no. 7931 of Southwick Cemetery.

Four days after the funeral for Thomas, Florence placed the following announcement in the Sunderland Echo:

Mrs. Boomer and children of 9 Thirlwell Terrace, wish to express their sincere thanks to undertaker, minister also to staff of No. 11 Ward, General Hospital, also staff and patients of No. 5 Ward, H.I.D. Hospital, officials and postmen of Post Office, relations, friends, neighbours for kindness and sympathy shown in their bereavement, also for floral tributes received.

Having been employed as a Postman when he died, I approached Royal Mail with a view to adding Thomas’s name to the memorial which is situated in the Main Post Office in Fawcett Street, Sunderland. Unfortunately the memorial is to remember those who served with the G.P.O. before leaving for war and were killed as a result of conflict. After World War 2 there were a lot of recruits to the G.P.O. from returning servicemen. I cannot be certain, but I do feel Thomas was one of those recruits. It is possible that after returning home he was not capable of carrying out such a demanding job as mining, especially the environment he would have been working in, and looked for employment that was a little less detrimental to his health. And it is because of this that sadly his name cannot be placed on the memorial.

Florence did not remarry and times must have been really difficult for her, bringing up a young family in such arduous times. She lived until she was 81, dying in early May 1989 in Sunderland General Hospital. Florence was laid to rest on the 17th May 1989 in Section Grave no. 7931 of Southwick Cemetery.

Thomas Henry Boomer is not remembered on a local memorial.

The CWGC entry for Corporal Boomer