Tom Hampshire (1887-1917)

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An ongoing project to commemorate and research the lives of those who appear on war memorials and rolls of honour in the local area, who served in the military, or whose deaths were linked to conflict.

Huddersfield's Roll of Honour: 1914-1922

The following extract is from Huddersfield's Roll of Honour: 1914-1922 (2014) by J. Margaret Stansfield:

HAMPSHIRE, TOM. Private. No CH/1298(S). 1st Royal Marine Battalion R.M.L.I., Royal Naval Division. Born Holmfirth 28.11.1887. Son of the late Jonas Hampshire, Lane End, Holmfirth. Lived with his brother Herbert Hampshire, at Chapel Street, Netherton, and then at Mearhouse, New Mill. Attended the Netherton Wesleyan Chapel and Sunday School and was a member of the Sons of Temperance. Employed as a labourer in the dyehouse at Turnbridge Mills. Enlisted 29.11.1915. Embarked for France in September, 1916. Reported missing 28.4.1917. Has no known grave.
During the research for this book I discovered that the Commonwealth War Graves Commission had no record of Private Tom Hampshire. Due to the efforts of Esther Barrett Page of the CWGC, Kyle D. Tallett, of Ashford, Kent, and myself, Tom Hampshire's name is now engraved on the ARRAS MEMORIAL TO THE MISSING).
ROH:- Fulstone War Memorial; South Crosland and Netherton War Memorial.

Lives of the First World War

The following section is reproduced from the Imperial War Musuems' Lives of the First World War site under the terms of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence.

Born on 28 November 1887, Tom Hampshire was the youngest son of Jonas Hampshire, a carpenter and joiner of Lane End, Holmfirth. For many years, he lived with his elder brother Herbert and his wife in Netherton, where Tom was connected with the Wesleyan Sunday School and the Sons of Temperance. Subsequently, Herbert moved to Mearhouse, New Mill. Tom enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry in York on 29 November 1915 and embarked for France in September 1916. He was reported missing on 28 April 1917 but his body was subsequently found on the battlefield and buried by the officer and men of his Battalion. The chaplain wrote to Herbert “You will understand I am sure, that the delay in finding the body has been due to the fact that the ground is still under enemy observation, and a thorough search has been difficult.”

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

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