DINES, Thomas



No.10400, Private, Thomas DINES
Aged 20


7th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment
Killed in Action on Sunday, 12th March 1916


Thomas Dines was born in Langford, Beds (Biggleswade Q1-1896 3B:851), son of Joseph and Harriett DINES (née WILLIAMSON).

1901 census...Aged 5, he was at Dark Lane, Langford, Beds with his father Joseph DINES [27] farm labourer; his mother Harriet [28] born Stanford; brother Leslie [3] and sister Norah [1]. All except his mother were born in Langford.

1911 census...Aged 15, farmers son, he was at Langford with his parents (father now farmer; brothers Leslie (farmers son), and Donald [1]; sisters Norah, Carrie Sarah [8] and Phyllis [5]. The new siblings were all born in Langford. His mother had borne 9 children but 3 had died.

The only connection with Ridgewell found is his mother's address on Army correspondence, so it seems the family moved to Great Meadow End Farm, Ridgewell sometine during the war.


Thomas enlisted in Chelmsford. A few damaged pages of his Army records survive. He was a farm labourer aged 19, 5 feet 8 inches (172.7 cm)tall, weighing 131 lbs (63.2 kg), chest 33.5" to 35.5" (85.1 to 90.2 cm). He enlisted in 1914 and on 30th November was at No 4 depot, Royal Garrison Artillery, Great Yarmouth. On 9th January 1915 he was in Royal Garrison Artillery and on 9th June 1915 was transferred to the 3rd Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. With them he was sent to the BEF in France on 4th October 1915, where on 10th October 1915 he joined the 7th Battalion.
Army correspondence regarding his death was addressed to Mrs H Dines, Great Meadow End Farm, Ridgewell, Essex.

The war diary has nothing of significance:-
12th...Communication between the Craters and front line have been made much better. The small crater opposite sap 13 was investigated today and the Germans only seem to occupy it as a sentry post, though work is being done inthe sap. The day passed much the same as usual.

CWGC records give 7 of the battalion killed that day.



Thomas Dines is buried in the Vermelles British Cemetery , grave 2:J:8

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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