Trafford

Born during the December quarter 1892 in the Salford R.D. - ref: 8c/673,
the son of Thomas Henry & Eliza Jane (Jennie) Owen (Nee Green)

In 1891 his parents - Thomas Henry Snr. & Eliza Jane were residing with
Eliza's mother - Theodosia Green, at the Manchester Ship Canal Works, Ferry
Lane, Eastham, Cheshire, where she was employed as the 'Hut Keeper'. 
Thomas was aged: 22, employed as a Crane Driver, born at Liverpool.   Eliza
Jane, was aged: 19 and born at Mertyr Tydfil.  They had only just been
married.

At sometime between Thomas Henry Jnr's birth in 1892 and the 1901 Census
his parents emigrated to America, leaving him behind in the care of his
maternal grandmother.

1901 Census – 148 Liverpool Road, Irlam.   Visitor - aged: 8 - born:
Irlam, Lancashire.    Head of household - Theodosia Green (Thomas'
Grandmother) - Widow - aged: 62 - born: Yeovil, Somerset.  Plus her
daughter Mary Green (Thomas' Aunt).

1911 Census – 109 Liverpool Road, Irlam.    Nephew - aged: 18 - occ:
Wooden Box Maker - born: Irlam.   Head of household - Alfred Wilcock (His
Uncle) - Married - aged: 32 - occ: Ship Canal Labourer - born: Irlam.  
Also Mary Wilcock - Wife - aged: 32 - born: Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales.  
Plus his Grandmother - Theodosia Green - aged: 72 - born: Yeovil,
Somerset.

He was engaged to Emily Hazelhurst b.1895, the daughter of Walter & Martha
Ellen Hazelhurst, 135 Liverpool Road, Cadishead.  Walter was a Railway
Signalman.

I am most grateful to Neil Drum & Pete Thomas for allowing me to use
verbatim the following extract from their superb 623 page book "A District
at War - Irlam & Cadishead's Part in the Great War", an incredibly detailed
and comprehensive book that is not only a credit to them, but a magnificent
memorial to the WW1 men of that district.

The 8th Bn. The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, served in the 7th Brigade,
25th Division.

Thomas was born in Irlam and worked at the Ford Motor Works in Trafford
Park, having previously worked at the CWS Soap Works.   His parents, Thomas
Henry and Jennie Owen, had emigrated to America and lived at 1316 St Olive
Street, Los Angeles in California.   Thomas remained in the district and
resided at 18 Baines Avenue, Irlam with his uncle and aunt, Alf and Mary
Wilcox (a further address is listed as 109 Liverpool Road, Irlam).   Thomas
was well known in the area, being a Sunday School teacher at Irlam Parish
Church and also Chief Scoutmaster at Irlam St John's Boy Scout troop.   He
was engaged to wed Miss Emily Hazlehurst of Cadishead.

Thomas enlisted at Manchester on 2nd September 1914. His battalion landed
at
Boulogne, France on 16th September 1915. He was injured in an accident on
25th April and died four days later in hospital on Saturday, 29th April
1916, aged 23. He had earlier written to friends from hospital to describe
his accident and telling them his recovery was very probable. A letter from
a comrade in the same battalion expressed the grief felt by his friends: 
“Every man in our platoon begs to tender his deepest sympathy to you in
this extremely sad bereavement and to assure you that he was truly loved
and respected by all. Personally I shall miss him far more than I can
express to you on paper, for he always appeared to possess an unlimited
fund of innocent and hearty good humour, always ready to make light of the
many hardships through which we have lately passed, and with a light heart
and smile willing to do anything he was called upon to do. That it was a
pure accident will not, I know, make your grief any the less poignant, but
the knowledge that he bore it bravely like a man will, I feel sure, be some
consolation.  He went to hospital smiling and waving his hand to us, not
one of us thinking that it was anything more serious than a few weeks
detention in hospital. We feel confident that although your loss is great,
you will bear it with courage and fortitude.?
The following appeared in his obituary in the local newspaper: “There is
a link that death cannot sever, love and remembrance last forever – From
Grandmother, Mary, Alf and Emily”.    Medal Entitlement: 15 Star Trio.