Thomas Hallard Mead Died 24th July 1916
Thomas was born in 1889 in Micheldever, Hampshire to father, William and mother Sarah. He was the third born and had three siblings, two brothers and a sister. Sarah had given birth to seven children, losing three in infancy. By the age of 21, Thomas had become a clerk at Wellington College. His parents lived on Embrook Farm, Wokingham in the 1911 census.
Thomas had reached the position of second lieutenant by
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working his way through the ranks, a feat that was relatively rare before the First World War, but one which had become increasingly common by the end of it. He initially joined the Canadian Field Artillery and became a gunner signaller before joining the Royal Field Artillery, 72nd Brigade. During the first month of the Battle of the Somme he was killed; the 24th July 1916.
An obituary appeared in the Reading Standard 0n 29th July
“Mr and Mrs Mead of Rose Street Wokingham received the sad news that their son Lieutenant Mead has been killed. The deceased, who came over with the first Canadian contingent was a promising soldier and had seen much service at the front. Some time ago he was promoted to Lieutenant and had recently transferred to the RFA”
Emmbrook local historian Peter Shilham tells us that by 1907 William MEAD appears as farmer at Embrook Farm, Reading Road and he still there in 1915, but by 1919 Frank Gilbert HARMAN has taken over the tenancy. One consistent factor which runs through the tenure of the farm is the number of times it changes hands, with all previous census records showing different names.
The Times, Monday 31st July 1916. Supplied by Jim Bell
Name: MEAD, THOMAS HALLARD
Rank: Second Lieutenant. Regimental number: 40452
Regiment/Service: Royal Field Artillery Unit Text: 72nd Brigade.
Age: 26
Date of Death: 24/07/1916
Additional information: Son of William and Sarah Elizabeth Mead, of 3, Broad St., Wokingham.
Formerly Gunner (Signaller), Canadian Field Artillery, 1st Contingent.
Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. H. 7.Cemetery:VERMELLES BRITISH CEMETERY. Vermelles was in German hands from the middle of October 1914 to the beginning of December 1914, when it was recaptured by the French. The cemetery was begun in August 1915 (though a few graves are slightly earlier), and during the Battle of Loos, when the Chateau was used as a dressing station, Plot I was completed. It was laid out and fenced by the Pioneers of the 1st Gloucesters, and known for a long time as “Gloucester Graveyard”. The remaining Plots were made by the Divisions (from the Dismounted Cavalry Division onwards) holding the line 1.6 kilometres East of the cemetery until April 1917, and they incorporated a few isolated French graves of October 1914
Above report from the Times, suppled by Jim Bell
3, Broad Street, Wokingham.
Embrook Farm, Wokingham
Many thanks to Peter Shilham who provides us with the following information on Embrook Farm:
Embrook Farm was operated by Richard Henry FERRIBEE at least between 1899 and 1903 but by 1907 William MEAD appears as farmer at Embrook Farm, Reading Road and he still there in 1915.
By 1919 Frank Gilbert HARMAN is farmer there. An application for drainage to be put in to Emmbrook Farm in 1928.
In 1931 Victor HAWKES appears in Kelly’s Directory at Embrook Farm.
By 1935 it seems that Arthur Eli CROSS is there.
In 1939 Francis R CARTMAN is given at Embrook Farm.
The most consistent thing here seems to be the spelling of Emmbrook with one m. Certainly the farmers came and went. In each of the Census years prior to 1911 a different person appears!
Also: In 1938 John Thomas MEAD lives in Lowther Road, Emmbrook.
In 1951 a Miss Jane MEAD died age 83 years – she lived at 17 Lowther Road.
I have an early postcard of a man standing by a coal lorry with the name board “MEAD, WOKINGHAM”. Your preamble suggests that Thomas Mead was a coal merchant at some time. Is there a connection? Kind regards.
That would be fascinating to see. I have a pdf of Mead which I can send you. My email mike@wokinghamremembers.com
Thomas Hallard Mead was the son of my Great Uncle William Mead. Sometime after 1911 census, William was a coal merchant at 11a Broad Street, Wokingham, Berks, at some point the family also had a bakery business on the corner of Broad St. & Rose St. Wokingham. When my father (Walter George Mead,known as George) was first married he worked for William Mead delivering coal, he lived in one of his tithe cottages in Carey Rd., Wokingham. In the mid 1930’s my family(Walter George Mead and Edith Christine and I moved to 11a Broad St. after Uncle William retired and sold up to Toomers .
My father became the manager of the Wokingham & Caversham branches. I can remember visiting William,s daughter Mabel when she lived in Denton Road,Wokingham.
Mabel had a career as a schoolteacher but never married. Can anyone tell me where she taught? I cannot find her in the 1911 census.
Hello Miriam. I have a document about Thomas which I presented to Wellington College. They are to remember him as he was left off their memorial after the war. He was an employee and left there for Canada. It was a great honour to research Thomas and I thought he was such an exceptional human bing. If you can send me your email address I will send it to you. My email is mike@wokinghamremembers.com I take it Mabel’s name was Mabel Mead ? I will place a request out to my local history pals and see if they can come up with anything. Kind regards, Mike Churcher
Hi Mike,
Did my aunt Miriam get in touch with you?
Regards
Andy Croy