In Ham British Cemetery, France is the Commonwealth War Grave of 116895 Pioneer Thomas Horan serving with the Royal Engineers who died 15/02/1918.

Dorothy Hall has submitted the following:-

Thomas was born to Irish couple Thomas and Bridget (nee Garvey) in 1873 at Barnard Castle. The couple had 9 children together although 3 died.

The 1891 census does not show father Thomas (a drainer of land) at his home on census night, he is living elsewhere in Barnard Castle. Bridget was a flax spinner to help support the family. Thomas, was a mason’s labourer. James and Francis were scholars.

By 1901 Thomas had left Barnard Castle and was boarding at Stockton on Tees. He was a bricklayer’s labourer

Thomas married Rose Meehan in 1902 and their only child John was born August 11th 1903.

In 1911 he was living at 45 Low Street, Tilery, Stockton. He was working as a Furnace man at a Sulphate Works.

Thomas enlisted into the Royal Engineers later transferring to the Labour Corps.

He was killed by enemy aircraft bombs while on active service on February 15th 1918.

Two of Thomas’s brothers also served and died in the Great War. Frank who died April 12th 1916 and James who died April 2nd 1918.

His father Thomas had died in 1907 and his mother Bridget died 1923.

Thomas Horan is remembered in Stockton on Tees on S138.10 and  in S138.18.