Jan 13, 1882

Born in Liverpool, England to Frederick and Margaret (nee Bowyer) Thomas

May 10, 1904

Married to Mary Ann Booth in Peterborough, Ontario

Nov 9, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59967 (temporary number 578)

Ø  Next of kin given as Mary Ann Thomas, wife, Brown St., Browntown, Peterborough, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Clerk

Ø  Previous military experience given as 24^th Field Battery, Peterborough, Ontario

Ø  Religion given as Baptist

Ø  Assigned to “E” Company

o   Later reorganized into “C” Company

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

 
His brother, Sam Thomas DCM, attested into the battalion on the same day

 
Although not given as part of his military experience, Frederick Thomas served in the South Africa War with the British forces

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

Jun 19, 1915

Appointed to the provisional rank of Corporal with the rank of Acting Sergeant

Jul 1, 1915

Confirmed in the rank of Corporal

Sep 1, 1915

Appointed to the rank of Lance Sergeant with pay to replace L/Sgt Peppiatt who had been promoted.

Sep 9, 1915

Promoted to the rank of Sergeant to replace Sgt PJ Logan who had been reduced in rank for absence

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

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

May 8, 1916

Granted 9 days leave

May 17, 1916

Rejoined the battalion from leave

May 21, 1916

During the night of May 20/21 while leading a work party building a new trench in the Ypres Salient, Sergeant Frederick Anthony Thomas was shot in the neck by an enemy sniper and died where he fell a few moments shortly after.  He was buried later in the day by members of his company in the Ridgewood Cemetery, Dickebusch, Belgium.

 Following the war, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny), Scroll and Memorial Cross was sent to his widow, Mrs. Mary Thomas, 516 Chamberlain St., Peterborough, Ontario

Peterborough Examiner August 31, 1916

Peterborough Examiner September 8, 1916

Oct 28, 1918

His widow, Mary Thomas, died in Peterborough, Ontario of Influenza.  Frederick’s 3 children were taken in by their grandmother, Mrs. Elizabeth E. Booth, 516 Chamberlain St., Peterborough, Ontario and a pension was granted to provide care for them.

Frederick Anthony Thomas is honoured on the war memorial in
Peterborough, Ontario

He is also remembered on a plaque in the Park Street Baptist Church
in Peterborough