Thomas Ormerod
Private 111458
Tank Corps
Thomas was the son of John and Mary Ellen Ormerod, and at the time of the 1901 and 1911 was living at 2 Higher Peel Street, Oswaldtwistle.
The entry for Thomas in the Oswaldtwistle Roll of Honour reads:
"ORMEROD, Pte. Thomas, 111458 (Tank Corps; formerly 213835 Royal Regt. of Artillery); lived at Harvey Street, Oswaldtwistle; k.i.a. 5th October 1917; bd. Sunken Road Cem., Fampoux. [Sources: Greater Accrington Roll of Honour 1914-1919, first published in the Accrington Observer & Times, 1919, Commonwealth War Graves Commission Debt of Honour Register, Officers and Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1919, Accrington Observer & Times, 17th January 1922]"
The Commonwealth War Graves Debt of Honour Register confirms that Thomas was killed on 5 October 1917 and is buried in Sunken Road Cemetery, Fampoux (Grave Ref. I. C. 25).
The Soldiers Died in the Great War Database records that Thomas was born in Oswaldtwistle and enlisted in the Army in Blackburn. Prior to joining the Tank Corps, Thomas served with the Royal Regiment of Artillery, with the Regimental Number 213835.
The Army Register of Soldiers' Effects records that he left his effects to his sisters, Sarah A. Ormerod and Mrs Ellen Rawcliffe.
Thomas is mentioned in Visiting the Fallen: Arras: North by Peter Hughes, who notes:
"Private Thomas ORMEROD, Tank Corps, was killed in action on 5 October 1917 and had formerly served with the artillery (Plot I.C.25). His presence here is unusual, particularly as all significant operations, and certainly any involving tanks, were taking place at Ypres. The only other Tank Corps casualty from October 1917 buried anywhere near Arras is at Bucquoy Road Cemetery, Ficheux."
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Thomas' grave in Sunken Road Cemetery, Fampoux |