Bosher, Thomas 1918

Thomas was son of Edward and Ellen Bosher and had a brother and a sister. By 1911 Thomas was married to Rhoda and they had a son Edward Thomas who was born in 1911. Rhoda must have been married before (she was a few years older than Thomas) as they also had 5 step-children and a lodger living them at 14 Havelock Street (in 4 rooms). Thomas worked as a carter to a coal merchant.

He joined up in Wokingham and joined the Royal Field Artillery after which he was transferred to the Northumberland Fusiliers (number 36184) 22nd Battalion, Tyneside Scottish. He died on the 8th August 1918 and is buried in Mons, Belgium. His son Edward married and died in 1962.

An interesting article in the Reading Chronicle on 24th August 1918 tells us a little more about Thomas:

“Private T Bosher Northumberland Fusiliers has died in German hands. Joining in 1916 he entered the RFA and wad later transferred. He served in France and was sent home to hospital suffering from trench foot. Going out again in January 1918 within 6 weeks he was missing. His widow is left with 7 children 5 of them very young. prior to joining up Mr Bosher was yard foreman for Mr W G Jefferies coal merchant of Wokingham and before that for messers Gadd and Co.”

Formed at Newcastle, 5 November 1914, by the Lord Mayor and City.
June 1915 : attached to 102nd Brigade, 34th Division.
Landed in France in January 1916.
17 May 1918 : reduced to cadre strength; returned to England 18 June 1918 with the 16th (Irish)Division.
18 June 1918 : absorbed new 38th Bn, and then attached to 48th Brigade, 16th Division.
Landed in France in July 1918.