Edwin George Thomas



Oct 21, 1886

Born in Kingston, Ontario to Samuel Edwin and Rebecca (nee Bonny) Thomas

 
 

Jul 3, 1894

His mother, Rebecca, died in Kingston, Ontario

 

Sep 16, 1895

His father was remarried to Mary Jane Compton, in Kingston, Ontario

 

Nov 16, 1914

Attested into the 21st Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59966 (temporary number 1045)

Ø  Next of kin given as Mrs. Mary Thomas, mother, 19 Frontenac St., Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Traveller

o   Later noted as Commercial Traveller

Ø  Previous military experience given as 4 years in the Canadian Signalling Corps.

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Assigned to “F” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “C” Company

o   Employed in the Signals Section

 
On attesting, he stated he had been born in 1885, not his actual birth year of 1886

 
The battalion trained in the Kingston area through the winter with headquarters in the Kingston Armouries

 

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

 
 

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training

 

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

 

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer

 

Nov 27, 1915

Appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal with pay to replace 59362 L/Cpl CS Manners who had been reduced in rank

 

Dec 31, 1915

While the battalion was occupying the N & O front line trenches near Voormezeele, Belgium in the Ypres Salient, Lance Corporal Edwin George Thomas was shot and killed by a sniper while repairing the communication system between the lines and the battalion headquarters.  He was later buried in the Ridgewood Cemetery, Dickebusch, Belgium

 
 

 Following the war, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny) and Scroll were sent to his father, Mr. S.E. Thomas, 19 Frontenac St., Kingston, Ontario

 
There was no Memorial Cross issued

 

 

Toronto Star, January 12, 1916

 


Edwin George Thomas is honoured on the Memorial Wall
in Kingston, Ontario

 

 

He is also honoured on a memorial plaque in Kingston’s City Hall

 

 



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