Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Benjamin Black a Coal Miner, born 1871 in Barrow upon Soar, Leics., and his wife Ellen, born 1871 in Suffolk. Thomas was born in 1897 in Glenfield, Leics., his siblings were Rose Ellen, born 1900 in Glenfield, Leics., and Albert E., born 1901 in Whitwick, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at Silver Street, Whitwick, Leics., in the Ecclesiastical Parish of Whitwick, St. John the Baptist. In April 1911 Thomas was employed as a Colliery Token Boy and was residing in the family home at 13, Club Row, Hermitage Road, Coalville, Leics., together with his parents and siblings, Rose, Julia Ann, born 1903 in Whitwick, Leics., Charles Frederick, born 1904, Gertrude Annie, born 1905 and Bertha, born 1910, the latter three siblings were all born in Coalville, Leics. The War Diary for today records. TRENCHES south west of MONCHY AU BOIS. At 7.15am The above mentioned 77mm Battery continued its operations and fired intermittently throughout the day. About 200 of their shells were received also 37 shells from a 10.5cm Battery. No casualties resulted but a little damage was done to our trenches. During the afternoon our mortars and guns bombarded the enemy’s wire and front line trenches in connection with a raid which was to be carried out by the 4th Battn LINCOLNSHIRE REGT at 11.30pm. As a feint the Huns wire in front of our salient was also cut. On our section the enemy retaliated with artillery (as already mentioned) and a few mortars. At 7.40pm in order to attract the enemies attention two small tubes were to be placed under the Hun wire in front of our salient and these would be fired by electricity just before the LINCOLNSHIRE REGT raid. This operation was to be carried out by 2nd Lt COLES and 6 other ranks together with 2nd Lt SAPCOTE, ROYAL ENGINEERS and 4 other ranks. Before this party had left the trench an enemy rifle grenade exploded amongst them wounding the two officers and killing two ROYAL ENGINEERS. As some of the material was damaged and could not be replaced in time this part of the operation was not carried out. The enemy continued to send rifle grenades in this part of the line throughout the night, some 150 in all. At 11.30pm during the raid we met with little retaliation.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday October 20th, 1916

COALVILLE SOLDIER KILLED

News has been received by Mr and Mrs Benjamin Black, of 13, Club Row, Hermitage Road, Coalville, that their son, Private Thos. Black, of the Leicestershire Regiment, was killed in action on the 5th inst. The news is not official, but as it comes from three different sources there is every reason to believe that it is only too true.

Writing on October 7th, Lieutenant E. E. Wynne, states: “It is with deepest sympathy that I write to tell you of your son’s death, killed in action on October 5th, 1916. He was killed by a shell and died instantaneously, suffering no pain. He has been buried behind the line, and his grave will be cared for in future. He is a great loss to the company as he was always willing to do anything that was required of him. Please accept the deepest sympathy from myself and the other officers of B. Co. in your sad loss.”

The Chaplain, the Rev. R. G. Lowndes, writes, “I am sorry to have to tell you (if you have not already been officially informed) of the death in action on Thursday afternoon of your son, Private T. Black. He was killed by a shell, and I buried him the next day in the cemetery in this village just behind the line where he fell faithfully doing his duty for King and country, and, as we believe, in the cause of God and right. I felt I would like to let you know. When the dear lads are taken out here our thoughts go out to the dear ones at home in their great sorrow and loss. He has made the great sacrifice and remembering our blessed Lord’s words, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends”, we may pray with confidence that in that place of light, whence sorrow and mourning are banished, there may be vouchsafed to him everlasting rest. May the blessed Mother who stood sorrowing by the Cross for the loss of her dear son, intercede for all poor mothers in their heavy loss, and may God bless and comfort you in your great trial. It may comfort you a little to know that the graves are well cared for. A cross with inscription is erected, and particulars of the graves can be had of the D.C.R.E. Winchester House, St. James’ Street, London, S.W. With sincere sympathy etc.”

Another letter received is from J. Harris, and the lads of the deceased’s platoon. Harris writes, “My chums and myself feel it our duty to write you these few lines with regard to your son’s death. We must say that all the platoon feel it very much as your son was so much liked by all us chaps. He was such a jolly young lad. We were getting shelled rather bad at this time, and your Tommy was walking up the trench to speak to some of us when one shell burst close to him, and he was killed instantaneously. We cannot say how much we miss him, but we hope that you will be able to pull through and we hope this letter will comfort you a little in your loss.”

Private Thomas Black was only 19 years of age in August last, and before the war he worked on the bank at the Whitwick Colliery. He enlisted 12 months last April, and had been about a year in France. His father, Mr B. Black, has been unable to work for 8 or 9 years through ill-health, and an accident at the pit. The deceased soldier was the eldest of the family of eight children, only one of whom is working, six being dependent on their parents at home.

Coalville Times article - Friday November 10th, 1916

MEMORIAL SERVICE

On Sunday evening an impressive service was held in the Coalville London Road Baptist Church in memory of thirteen former scholars of the Sunday School who have fallen in action. Their names are, Lieut. Ford, Lieut. T. Dooley, D.C.M., Sergeant Alfred Wesson, Sergeant G. H. Wesson, Privates C. W. Jewsbury, H. G. Wharmby, Clifford Scott, T. Black, E. S. Boot, F. Martin, Jos. Wardle, James Wardle and J. Martin.

There was a large congregation which included the members of the Coalville Volunteer Training Corps, under the command of Commandant J. S. Turner. The pastor, the Rev. F. Pickbourne, conducted the service and gave an appropriate address. The choir rendered Sullivan’s “Homeland” and Mr J. H. Starkey (organist) played a funeral march by Beethoven. Suitable hymns were also sung by the congregation.

Coalville Times article - Friday October 5th, 1917

IN MEMORIAM

In loving memory of our dear son, Pte. Thomas Black, Leicesters, killed in action in France, October 5th, 1916. Aged 19 years.

“I often pause to think, dear son,
And wonder how you died,
With no one near, who loved you dear,
Before you closed your eyes.

You nobly did your duty; like a hero fell;
Could I have held your drooping head,
And heard your last farewell.”

From his loving Mother, Father, Sisters and Brothers.

Coalville Times article - Friday December 27th, 1918

COALVILLE FAMILY’S BEREAVEMENT

DEATHS OF FIVE CHILDREN IN ONE HOUSE

Another death occurred on Sunday in the house of Mr and Mrs Benjamin Black, of 13, Club Row, Coalville, who have now lost five of their children from influenza in ten days. As reported in our last issue, there were two double funerals from the house last week, a boy aged 4 years and a girl 6, being buried together, and then two girls, aged 9 and 13. Another girl, Julia Ann, aged 16, died on Sunday and was buried in Coalville Cemetery on Tuesday afternoon.

Mr Black was formerly a Whitwick miner, but has done no work for some time, owing to illness. A boy has been killed in the war and in a family of twelve children, only two now survive.

Research undertaken and submitted (including photograph from Coalville Times) by Andy Murby 17/10/2017