No.7544, Corporal, Thomas E. PLACE
Aged 26
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Thomas E. Place was born in Isleham on 3rd November 1888 (Newmarket Q4-1888 3B:517), baptised in Isleham on 18th October 1885, son of Charles and
Mary Ann PLACE (née BROWN).
1891 census...Aged 2, he was at West Bank of River Lark, Isleham with his father Charles [44] agricultural labourer born Isleham, his mother Mary Ann [40] born Lakenheath; brother Abram [14] agricultural labourer; sister Lizzie Sarah [12]; brothers Alfred [10], Charles Henry [8], and Arthur E. [5] and sister Bessie Eva [4 months]. All the children were born in Isleham. 1901 census...Aged 12, he was at Fen Bank. Isleham with his parents, sister Kate M.[29] born Mildenhall, and all the other siblings plus brother Vernon [7]. All the boys over 12 were agricultural labourers. 1911 census...Aged 22 he was at Mustapha Pasha Barracks, Alexandria, Egypt, a drummer in the 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. His parents, and brothers Abram, Charles Henry and Vernon Isaac were still living at Fen Bank, Isleham. 10 of the 11 children survived, the missing child seems to be Eva, born 1887, died 1889. His elder brother, Arthur, died in France in December 1914. see here and his youngest brother, Vernon, died in Belgium in June 1916. see here |
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Enlisted in Bury St Edmunds. He attested on 8th January 1907, for the 3rd Suffolks No.7353, giving his age as 18 yrs 2 months, previously employed by Mr. Ambrose at Stuntney. He was 5' 7" (170.2 cm)tall, weighed 115 lbs (52.3 kg) chest 35" to 38" (88.9 to 96.5) grey eyes, dark brown hair, Church of England. Joined the regiment on 26th February 1907 That is all that appears to be available for his early service (he signed for 6 years). His service records for the war have not been found. It seems strange that he was not mobilised and sent to France earlier, unless of course he was being used as an instructor at Depot in Bury St Edmunds. "Soldiers Died" have him as "died of wounds", but this does not bear out the entry on his medal index card. Last seen on 3rd October 1915, he would have been with the 1st Suffolks who were attacking the Hohenzollern Redoubt, against Little Willie and then on to Fosse 8 if that was successful. In the event, delays to the start meant that the directions given, steering by the light of the moon, were now inaccurate and A,B and C companies became entirely lost and the attack failed. D company never even reached the start point, having been appropriated en route and sent off in another direction. The 160 casualties included 34 killed or missing, presumed dead. |
Early maps had Allied trenches in red
photo; Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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