Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George King Shreeves, a widower and railway engine driver, born 1861 in Harrowden, Bedfordshire. Harry Thomas was born in 1894 in Kempston, Bedfordshire, his siblings were, George William, a grocer’s errand boy, born 1888 in Bedford, Fanny Elizabeth, born 1889, Walter James, born 1891, Herbert John, born 1892, Sarah Ellen, born 1893, Maurice Marshall, born 1896, Marie Florence, born 1898 and Winifred Annie, born 1899, the latter seven siblings were all born in Kempston, Bedfordshire, in March 1901 the family home was at 34, Beatrice Street, Kempston, Bedfordshire. In April 1911 Harry was employed as a junior clerk and was residing in the family home at 34, Beatrice Street, Kempston, Bedfordshire together with his father and siblings, Elizabeth, a dressmaker, Walter a grocer’s warehouseman, Sarah, Maurice a telegraph messenger, Marie a schoolgirl and Winifred a schoolgirl. Thomas Shreeves enlisted into the 1st/5th Bn. Leicestershire Regiment on the 21st October 1914, together with his friend William Walter Robinson, service number 2971, both men were natives of Kempston, Bedfordshire where their parents still resided in the same Street. Information taken from his service record shows that he was promoted to Lance Corporal (Paid) on the 8th March 1915. Promoted to Corporal on the 18th July 1915. Admitted to 36th Field Ambulance having suffered gas poisoning in the field on the 13th October 1915. Transferred to No. 1 Casualty Clearing Station the same day. Admitted to No. 1 General Hospital at Etretat on the 15th October 1915. Transferred to No. 1 General Hospital Convalescent Camp at Le Havre on the 22nd October 1915. Transferred to the 46th Base Depot at Rouen on the 2nd November 1915. Proceeding to his unit at the front on the 24th November 1915. On the 12th May 1915 he absorbed a vacancy vice Monk to England. Admitted to 1st/3rd North Midland Field Ambulance suffering from scabies on the 5th January 1916. Admitted to 2 S.H. at St. Omer on the 13th February 1916. Transferred to 1st/3rd North Midland Field Ambulance in the Field on the 14th February 1916. Admitted to 30th Casualty Clearing Station in the Field on the 11th March 1916. Discharged to S.H. Rouen on the 20th March 1916. Admitted to N.Y.D., Rouen on the 22nd March 1916. Transferred to Base Depot, Rouen, March 1916. Proceeded to unit at the front on the 2nd April 1916. Promoted acting Sergeant 12th June 1916, vice Edwards to England on the 1st July 1916. Wounded in the field on the 21st July 1916. Admitted to 1st/3rd North Midland Field Ambulance, suffering from a shot gun wound and compound fracture to his left thigh on the 21st July 1916. Moved to 20th Casualty Clearing Station on the 22nd July 1916. Admitted to 2nd Canadian General Hospital at Le Treport on the 22nd July 1916. Died of his wounds on the 25th July 1916. Confirmed as substantive Sergeant on the 1st August 1916. He was buried Mont Huon Cemetery, Le Treport, France in Plot 2, Row D, Grave 10. The following information was provided on the 25th January 1919 by Thomas’s father George King Shreeves on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family). Father of soldier, George King Shreeves, of 34, Beatrice Street, Kempston, Bedfordshire, mother of soldier, none, full blood brother’s of deceased, George William Shreeves, age 31, 7, Bateman Street, Bradford, Yorks., Walter James Shreeves, age 29 of 34, Beatrice Street, Kempston, Bedfordshire, Herbert John Shreeves, age 28, R.M.L.I., HMS Phaeton, full blood sister’s of deceased, Fanny E. Shreeves, age 30, Sarah E. Shreeves, age 26, Marie F. Shreeves, age 21 and Winifred A. Shreeves, age 20, all of 34, Beatrice Street, Kempston, Bedfordshire. The War Diary for today records. TRENCHES FACING MONCHY. Weather dull. 2nd Lt ELMSLIE of -?- Corps reported for 5 days instruction in trenches. At 8.15pm Hun sent trench mortar shell. We tried retaliation but found our mortars unready. Artillery only opened. Our guns shelled hostile Transport at 10.40pm and again at 11.52pm. Short bursts of 20 minutes.