Trafford

Born during the March quarter 1876 in the Ashton under Lyne R.D. - ref:
8d/591, the eldest child of John James & Betsy Sheard (nee Moss).  Only his
birth registration gives his middle name of Moss, none of the census
returns mention it.

1881 Census - 53 King St, Dukinfield, Cheshire.     Son - aged: 5 - born:
Dukinfield.   Head of household - John J. Sheard - Married - aged: 27 -
occ: Watchmaker & Repairer - born: Dukinfield.    Also - Betsy Sheard -
Wife - aged: 27 - born: Dukinfield.    Plus 2 younger sisters, his maternal
grand-father (a retired Cotton Mill Manager) and 1 servant (nurse).

1891 Census - 16 Doddington Street, Salford.  Son - aged: 15 - occ: Errand
Boy - born: Dukinfield.     Head of household - John Jas. Sheard - Married
- aged: 35 - occ: Watch And Clock Repairer - born: Halifax, Yorkshire.   
Also - Betsy Sheard - Wife - aged: 35 - born: Ashton-Under-Lyne,
Lancashire.    Plus 3 younger siblings,

His mother - Betsey, died in 1894 and his father married Elizabeth Jacques
during the December quarter 1896 in the Salford R.D. - ref: 8d/185. 

1901 Census -  27 Fawcett Street, Broughton, Salford.    Visitor -
Unmarried - aged: 25 - occ: Tailor's Cutter - born: Dukinfield.   A visitor
at the home of Alexander & Florence Alice Frazer.    His father, aged: 44,
his step-mother, aged: 32, his younger brother and baby half-sister were
then residing at 7 Brunel Street, Salford.

Married - Frances Mary Priestman during the Dec Qtr 1903 at Salford R.D. -
ref: 8d/255.

1911 Census - The Grove Cottage, Humphrey Lane, Urmston.   Head - Married -
aged: 35 - occ: Storekeeper - born: Dukinfield.    Also - Frances Mary
Sheard - Wife - aged: 32 - born: Rainscough, Lancashire.   Rainscough is
situated between Swinton & Prestwich.

His father, aged: 52, his step-mother, aged: 40 and their 5 young children
(Thomas' half siblings), were still residing at 7 Brunel Street, Salford.

His CWGC record states that he was 39 years of age, but as can be seen from
the above references, he was actually aged 42 when he was killed.

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 2nd/5th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment, 199th Brigade,
66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division.

He was born at Dukinfield and his father, John James Sheard, lived at
Regent Road, Manchester.   He married Frances Priestman in 1903 and they
lived together in Davyhulme.  Thomas worked in Irlam at the CWS Soap Works.
  He enlisted into the Army at Manchester and served on the Western Front.

He was killed in action on Thursday, 21st March 1918, aged 39 and has no
known grave.   He is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France
and also the Irlam Soap Works panel of the CWS Memorial at Balloon Street,
Manchester, the Davyhulme War Memorial (Nag's Head circle) and St Mary's
Church War Memorial, Davyhulme.   He is not listed on the Irlam and
Cadishead War Memorial.   His wife later lived at Avondale, Flixton Road,
Urmston.   Medal Entitlement: Pair.