Trafford

Born during the December quarter 1894 in the Barton upon Irwell R.D. - ref:
8c/700, the second son of Harry & Elizabeth Payne (nee Weaver).

1901 Census - Stamford Street, Ashton Upon Mersey.     Son - aged: 6 -
born: Irlam.     Head of household - Harry Payne - Married - aged: 31 -
occ: Slater and Repairer of Property - born: Bromley, Essex.    Also -
Elizabeth Payne - Wife - aged: 28 - born: Irlam.    Plus his elder brother
- Arthur (also killed in WW1), his 2 younger siblings and an aunt.

1911 Census - 8 St Annes Terrace, Somerset Place, Ashton on Mersey.   Son -
aged: 16 - occ: Market Gardener - born: Irlam.    Head of household - Harry
Payne - Married - aged: 41 - occ: General Labourer - born: Little Bromley,
Essex.    Also - Elizabeth Payne - Wife - aged: 38 - born: Irlam.    Plus
his elder brother - Arthur (also killed in WW1) and his 5 younger
siblings.

On the 5th February 1914 he married Elsie Wright at St. Mary's P.C., Ashton
on Mersey during the March quarter 1914 in the Bucklow R.D. - ref: 8a/305.

Employed as a Nurseryman at Messrs. Muirhead & Wilcock Nurseries, Aston on
Mersey.

His death was confirmed in the 23/05/1919 edition of the Altrincham
Guardian.

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.

Served with the 10th (Service) Battalion, The Cheshire Regiment, 7th
Brigade, 25th Division.

Thomas was born in Irlam, the son of Harry and Elizabeth Payne.   His
parents later lived at 15 Somerset Place, Ashton-on-Mersey.  He was the
eldest child in the family and had seven brothers and sisters: Harry
(resided in India), Arthur, Ethel, Hilda, Emmie, Nellie and Ernest.   On
5th February 1914 he married Elsie Wright at St Mary's Church, Ashton and
they lived at 8 St Anne's Terrace, Mersey Road, Ashton-on-Mersey.   He was
employed as a nurseryman.

He enlisted into the Army at Sale on 7th February 1915, aged 21 years and
67 days, 5 foot 5 ¼ inches tall and weighing 114lb.   He was posted to the
3rd (Reserve) Battalion. On 4th July 1916 he embarked for France and on
17th July he was posted to the 10th Battalion, joining it the next day. On
4th September he received a gunshot wound to the back and was admitted to
77th Field Ambulance, and then to No. 11 Casualty Clearing Station.  The
next day he was admitted to No. 13 General Hospital, Etaples. On 14th
September his daughter, Iris, was born in Altrincham.    On 24th September
he was posted to No 4 Infantry Base Depot, Rouen where he remained until
19th October when he was posted back to the 10th Cheshire's, rejoining them
the next day.   On 30th March 1917 Thomas was admitted to No. 50 Casualty
Clearing Station suffering from scabies (a common disease in the trenches).
  On 23rd September he was appointed Lance Corporal (paid). In November he
was back in England on leave which was extended due to "urgent private
affairs."    He subsequently returned to his battalion on the Western
Front.

Thomas was killed in action on Friday, 22nd March 1918, at the age of 24,
although he was posted as missing and his death was only officially
confirmed in 1919.   He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France. His
name does not appear on the Irlam and Cadishead War Memorial but he is
commemorated on the war memorials at St Martin's and St Mary's Churches in
Ashton-on-Mersey.
On 4th August 1918 their second child, Thomas Henry, was born in
Broadheath. Elsie was by then living at 11 Platt Road, Broadheath, Cheshire
and by 1919 she had moved to 26 Weldon Road, Broadheath. Within a few years
she had emigrated and resided at 6360 Minerva Avenue, Chicago 111, USA.
Medal Entitlement: Pair.

His brother, Driver Arthur Payne (36712) of 'B' Battery, 250th Brigade, The
Royal Field Artillery, had been killed in action on 31st October 1917, aged
24, and is buried at Bleuet Farm Cemetery, near Ypres.   Another brother
served in the British Army of the Rhine in 1919.