No.3553, Private, Thomas ATHERTON
Aged 20
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Thomas Atherton was born in Hanchett End (Risbridge Q2-1896 4A:731), son of Martin and Flora Kate ATHERTON (née ELY). Martin Atherton married Flora Kate Ely in 1890
1901 census...Aged 4, he was at Glebe Farm, Withersfield Road, Great Thurlow with his father Martin ATHERTON [36] Horsekeeper born Horseheath, Cambs; his mother Flora Kate [33] born Horseheath; half brother Jeffery ELY [17] stockman born Shudy Camps, Cambs, brother Roger [9] born Shudy Camps and sister Lily [1] born Shudy Camps. 1911 census...Aged 14, farm yard boy, he was at Horseheath with his parents (father now a steam ploughman), sister Lily and brother Frederick [9] born Great Thurlow. He seemingly eventually became a Post Office employee, since he is named on the Newmarket Post Office memorial plaque The pension card has his mother at Little Thurlow, but on her death his father moved to 2 Meadow Cottage, Horseheath. |
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He enlisted in Haverhill in the Suffolk Regiment (the memorial does not reflect his transfer to the Machine Gun Corps).
On 19th November, the Battle of the Somme had just ended, his Company were in the region of Serre and Beaumont Hamel, at the Quadrilateral. This particular operation was also known as the Battle for the Ancre. CWGC records just his death in the 14th Company this day.
Charles Amos is commemorated on the Newmarket Memorial, William Day is on the Lidgate memorial Thomas Atherton is named on the Little Thurlow memorial
and commemorated on the Newmarket Post Office plaque click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
