Aged 26
Died as a result of enemy action on 13th June 1917
Apparently Civilian War Dead
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One source gives his death as 13th June 1917. This is not found on CWGC records, but is the date of the bombing raid on Liverpool Street Station
It appears that the details below are of his civilian history. Thomas Howard was born in Lode in 1889 (Newmarket Q4-1889 3B:515), son of Thomas [1855-1933] and Sarah THOMAS [1854-1948] (née EADEN). 1891 census...Aged 1, he was at Mill Road, Lode with his father Thomas HOWARD [34] labourer born Stow cum Quy; his mother Sarah [36] born Stow cum Quy; sister as Emma [9], Eliza [6] and Susan [4], all the children were born in Bottisham Lode. He had an elder sister Agnes (1879-1967). A brother John was born 1877,died 1878. 1901 census...Aged 11, he was at Mill Road, Lode with his parents, sisters Eliza, Susan and Lillian [2] born Lode, and brother William [6], born Lode. 1911 census...Aged 21, a farm labourer, he was at Mill Road, Lode with his parents, sisters Susan and Lillian and niece Ivy Minnie [5] born Lode. As yet the parentage of Ivy is not known. Two of the nine children had died. |
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It has been recorded that he was on leave and at Liverpool Street Station in London on 13th June 1917 when a raid by 20 German Gotha bombers took place.
Three bombs dropped on the station killing 16 people (the raid killed a total of 162 and injuring 432). It was the train to Hunstanton that was hit.
There is a Thomas HOWARD death registration of London City Q2-1917 1A:42. He died from "shock injuries to the legs caused by explosions of bombs dropped by enemy airmen" at St Bartholomew's Hospital. Further enquiries revealed that, in the coroner's report,
Thomas Howard age 26, was killed in the air raid of 13th June, and says he was a labourer and lived at 7 Forest Road, Lower Edmonton.
Which leaves the circumstance of the Lode man up in the air again. Discounting the "on leave" part, Thomas could still be regarded as "civilian war dead through enemy action". At present no documentation has been found linking this Edmonton labourer to the grave in Lode, but it almost certainly the man. The reference to being on leave though is a bit confusing as a military identity has not been found.
photo: Coral Hatley |
