The Soldiers

15/1338.Private T. Beaumont

Born Leeds 1899
Killed in Action 27/3/1918. Aged 19.

 

15/1338.Private T.Beaumont 
Thomas Beaumont was one of three children born to Fred and Emma Beaumont of 12, Stafford Street, Hunslet, Leeds.

He was 15 years old and working as a clerk with his father at Dobson and Hargreaves blanket manufacturers of Goodman Street, Hunslet, when he enlisted (underage).
After being posted to 7 platoon, ‘B’ Company, he served with the Pals in Colsterdale, Egypt and France. In early 1916 Thomas was sent on a machine gun instruction course and afterwards placed with the Pals Machine Gun Section.
On the 1st of July when the Pals attacked Serre he was wounded and hospitalised in France.

In December 1916 after recovering from his wounds he was transferred to the 35th Battalion of the newly formed Machine Gun Corps, serving with this unit until March 1918 when he was listed as missing (later confirmed) killed in action.

Having no known grave he is commemorated on the Poziers Memorial, France.

 

15/1338.Private T.Beaumont at the time of service
              with the Machine Gun Corps.

Thomas’s older Brother Harry served throughout the War with the British Army and survived. His only son Sydney Osborne Beaumont served with the 1st Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment in the 2nd World War and after capture by the Japanese died in captivity aged 23.

 

Fred Beaumont with his 3 children.
Fred Beaumont with his 3 children.
Harold (left), Ethel (right) and Thomas (seated)

 

With thanks to Thomas and Harry’s nephew’s for providing us with the family background, and donating documents and photographs.