| Date of birth: | 1891 |
| Place of birth: | Southampton |
| Service No.: | 24619 |
| Rank: | Private |
| Regiment / Division: | Hampshire |
| Battalion: | 2nd battalion |
| Died: | 2 December 1917, aged 26 years |
| Commemorated: | Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, France (Panel 7) |
Life before the War
Thomas was the third of 9 siblings born to John Alfred and Mary Ann Blandford (nee Wheatley), who married in Southampton in 1887. Both parents were born in the city, John in 1867 and Mary in 1870. Both also passed away in Southampton, Mary in 1928 and John one year later.
Siblings:
- Eva Maud b. 1888 Southampton d 1967 Southampton Married Edward Charles Chapman in Southampton in 1909.
- William John b. 1890 Southampton d. 1890 Southampton
- Thomas
- James Richard S. b. 1892 Southampton d. 1892 Southampton
- Charles Henry b. 1894 Southampton d. 1958 Southampton Married Annie M. Rose in Portsmouth in 1931. Married May R. Browning in Southampton in 1942.
- Florence Gertrude b. 1896 Southampton d. 1993 Bracknell Married Robert Mullen in Southampton in 1919. Married Ernest H. Bridge in Islington in 1921.
- Edith Julia b. 1900 Southampton d. 1900 Southampton
- Dorothy Victoria b. 1901 Southampton d. 1968 Southampton Married Charles Street in Southampton in 1921.
- Edward Robert G. b. 1906 Southampton d. 1965 I.o.W Married Margaret M. Blayney in Hackney in 1932.
War Service
The 2nd Hampshires took part in the 1915 Gallipoli campaign before departing from Alexandria in March 1916, bound for Marseilles and action on the Western Front.
It can be assumed that Thomas perished during the Battle of Cambrai, which commenced on 20 November.
The battle was based on a British offensive and a German counter-offensive in the north of France.
The initial effort was given over to capturing Bourton Ridge, something that was finally achieved on 28 November, despite over 16K shells being fired onto the ridge by the Germans on that day.
Huge casualties were suffered by both sides, with an estimated 47K British soldiers perishing in the area between 20 November and 8 December 1917.
| Researcher: | Mark Heritage |
| Published: | 10/08/2015 |
| Updated: |
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