Trafford

Born at High Legh during the September quarter 1878 in the Altrincham R.D.
- ref: 8a/207, the youngest son of son of Thomas & Ann Vost (nee
Moorhouse).

1881 Census - High Legh.    Son - aged: 2 - born: High Legh.   Head of
household - Thomas Vost - Married - aged: 37 - occ: Farmer of 13 Acres -
born: High Legh, Cheshire.   Also - Ann  Vost - Wife - aged: 34 - born:
Manchester.   Plus - 3 elder siblings and his uncle's family of 2 + 4.

1891 Census -  High Legh.    Son - aged: 20 - born: High Legh.   Head of
household - Thomas Vost - Married - aged: 48 - occ: Farmer - born: High
Legh, Cheshire.   Also - Ann  Vost - Wife - aged: 46 - born: Pendleton,
Manchester.     Plus - 2 elder siblings.

1901 Census - Millington Road, High Legh.  Son - Unmarried - aged: 23 -
occ: Farmers Son - born: High Legh.    Head of household - Thomas Vost -
Married - aged: 60 - occ: Farmer - born: High LKegh.   Plus 2 elder
siblings and a niece.    No trace of his mother - perhaps the enumerator
missed her off the record?

1911 Census - Howler's Farm, High Legh.   Son - Unmarried - aged: 34 -
born: High Legh.   Head of household - Thomas Vost - Married - aged: 68 -
occ: Farmer - born: High Legh, Cheshire.   Also - Anne Vost - Wife - aged:
66 - born: Pendleton, Manchester.    Plus 2 elder siblings and a niece.

Attended the High Leigh School.     

WO363 - Attested at Altrincham on 11th December 1915    Aged: 38 years, 7
months.   Residing at Thoreley Farm, Millington, he was employed as a
Haycutter & Agriculturist.  Mobilised on the 23rd March 1916.  Height: 5
feet 6½ inches - Weight: 129 lb - Expanded chest: 34 inches with a 3 inch
expansion.  Posted to Kinmel Camp on the 25th March 1916 and drafted to
France on the 23rd July 1916, embarking at Southampton.  Posted to the 19th
Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Rouen.  Re-posted to the 10th Battalion
on the 29th July.

His family as reported in 1919 was:-   Brothers - William Vost - aged: 48 -
2 Chatworth Street, Chorlton on Medlock.  Frank Vost - aged: 46 - Thorley
Farm, Millington.  Sisters:- Mary Emma Vost - aged: 45 - 30 Sefton Road,
Sale.   Sarah Ann Vost - aged: 43 - 3 Hawthorne Road, Heaton Mersey.

The 10th Battalion had already lost 228 men on the Somme by the 21st July
and another 224 by the 18th August - almost half the Regiment.   They were
at Happy Valley on the 20th August, Morlancourt on the 21st.   On the 23rd,
they then entrained at Méricourt for Candas and from there they began to
march to the St. Pol area.  From his place of burial it would appear that
they then moved up to a position south of Bethune.   Only three men of the
10th Battalion died during the month of September 1916, which would
indicate that they were not involved in any engagements.  Thomas probably
died as a result of "trench wastage" - stray shell - sniper, accident,
etc.

Death reported in the 06/10/1916 edition of the Altrincham Guardian.

Pension Record - Dependent: Mrs. Ann Vost, Thorley Farm. Millington,
Cheshire.   Her name has been crossed out and his father's name
substituted.  They received a weekly pension of 6/- per week, w.e.f. the
22nd May 1917.

His parents received the two basic war medals - BWM & the VM.

Listed in the Guardian Year Book - Roll of Honour for 1917.

M.I. - "We who loved you sadly miss you".