Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the husband of Sarah Ellen Wild. Other sources show his place of residence as Hugglescote, Leics.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday August 9th, 1918

Local Casualties

News has been received that Pte. T. Wild, of the Durham Light Infantry, reported missing several weeks ago, is a prisoner of war in Germany. He was formerly an assistant in Coalville Co-Operative Society’s tailoring department, and his wife resides at Crescent Road, Hugglescote.

Coalville Times article - Friday December 6th, 1918

LOCAL CASUALTIES

News was received on Monday that Private Thomas Wilde, of the Durham Light Infantry, a Coalville soldier, who was taken prisoner by the Germans some months ago, has died in hospital in Germany. Up till recently, he had written cheerful letters home and his wife, who resides with their one child at Crescent Road, Hugglescote, had been looking forward to his early return home. Much sympathy is felt for her at this sad turn of events. Pte. Wilde, who was about 27 years of age, was formerly an assistant in the gents outfitting department of the Coalville Co-Operative Society and his genial and gentlemanly bearing at all times had made him very popular with all associates. His father is also an employee of the Coalville Co-Operative Society.

Coalville Times article - Friday December 27th, 1918

LOCAL CHIT CHAT

At the Coalville Men’s Adult School on Sunday morning, a vote of sympathy and condolence was passed with the widow and parents of the late Private T. Wild, a prisoner of war who had died in hospital in Germany. The deceased soldier’s father has for some years been a respected and popular member of the school.

Coalville Times article - Friday January 24th, 1919

COALVILLE CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY

EMPLOYEE’S ROLL OF HONOUR

The 140th quarterly meeting of the Coalville Workingmen’s Co-Operative Society was held in the Adult School Hall on Saturday evening, Mr C. W. Brown, jnr. presiding over a good attendance.

The chairman said it was the first time since he had been chairman that he had been able to wish the members a happy new year, except with bated breath. They were glad that peace was at hand. The war had made many homes sad and they all hoped that at the peace conference now sitting some method would be arrived at in dealing with disputes between nations which would prevent anything of the kind happen again (hear, hear).

A letter was read from Mr W. Stacey, thanking the members for their vote of sympathy with him on the death of his son.

The chairman said that it had been remarked that the Society had made many appeals to the local Tribunal, but it was not generally known that 85 of their employees had joined the Forces. He regretted to say that ten had made the supreme sacrifice, their names being:

J. Horrocks (boot department), E. Stinchcombe, W. Mace (stables), J. Brooks (Bagworth grocery), V. Hancox, W. Tyers (Ellistown grocery), D. Drinkwater (Central bakery), W. Collier (Hugglescote grocery), R. Brooks (butchery), and T. Wild (tailoring).

Coalville Times article - Friday February 14th, 1919

PROPOSED MEMORIAL AND THANKSGIVING FUND

Meetings are being held throughout the Ashby Wesleyan Circuit, to consider the inauguration of a war memorial and thanksgiving fund, and there was a gathering for this purpose in the Coalville Wesleyan Chapel on Saturday night, when Mr C. H. March presided over a fairly good attendance.

The details of the scheme are set forth in a circular which is being issued, and of which the following is a copy.

“To celebrate the end of the ‘great war’ and the coming of ‘peace’ the quarterly meeting of the Circuit decided by a unanimous vote to inaugurate a great ‘Memorial and Thanksgiving Fund.’ The nation in the hours of danger has not counted any sacrifice of blood or treasure too great to hasten the time when all that we hold dear should be made secure from an unscrupulous foe. That end has been achieved. The victory is ours. In token of our gratitude to Almighty God, we desire to raise this ‘Memorial and Thanksgiving Fund’ to enable the churches in this Circuit more efficiently to carry on, and extend the Kingdom of God. We suggest that contributions may be given as a thank-offering for loved ones spared, or in memory of dear ones who have laid down their lives for us. There are also large numbers in the Circuit, who, because of the importance of their work, have escaped the horrors of the battlefield, and will be able to give substantially in thankful recognition of their privileges. Everyone, indeed, has received great blessing through the ministry of our church, and the debt we owe to our beloved Methodism is greater than we can tell. Therefore, we earnestly appeal to all our people to give hearty and generous support to the ‘Memorial and Thanksgiving Fund’. The first claim upon the income of the fund will be the clearing of the debt upon the Circuit houses, which amounts to £1,000, thus saving £44 per year in interest. The remainder of the income will be held at the disposal of the Circuit quarterly meeting for the benefit of the work of God in the Circuit. – William Hooper, William H. Wardle, B.A., and William Solomon (ministers), J. P. Adcock, J. P. (treasurer); W. J. Plowright and C. H. March (secretaries).”

During the meeting, Mr T. Frith read the Roll of Honour, which contained 99 names formerly connected with the church and Sunday School. Two have won the D.C.M. – Harry Beard and Edwin Collier – and four the Military Medal, these being Tom Palmer, Tom Wood, George Wildgoose and Walter Lewis.

Twenty had made the supreme sacrifice – Cecil A. Bradshaw, Ernest Batho, Geo. Beale, Sydney Dodds, Walter Fantom, John Hall, Horace Hall, Jess Jones, Wilfred Jones, Fred Hart, Arthur Johnson, Walter Lewis, M.M., Harry Lewis, William Setchell, Sam Smith, Tom Usherwood, Willie Wells, Alf Wood, Albert Essex and Tom Wild.

Coalville Times article - Friday July 18th, 1919


COALVILLE SOLDIERS WELCOMED

The employees of the Coalville Co-Operative Society organised a garden party on Wednesday as a welcome home to their fellow employees who have been serving in the Forces. A company of about 250 were taken by motor ‘bus to the Barrow Hill Farm, Osgathorpe, recently purchased by the Society, and there had tea and games, a pleasant time being spent. The Coalville Coronation Band was present. Of the 83 employees who served in the Forces, 7 were killed. The number recently returned and who were welcomed on Wednesday, was 42. Mr W. Scaysbrook (chairman) read the following to the assembly:

“Coalville Workingmen’s Co-Operative Society. – The primary object of our gathering to-day is to afford the opportunity of welcoming back to our midst those of our fellow employees and comrades who, responding to the call of duty, have endured danger and hardships in order that civilisation might be protected from the ravages of a ruthless foe, and in order that life for all nations shall be more worth living. The Society, with which we are associated, has made its contribution to the common cause, no less than 83 of its employees having joined the military, naval and air forces. To all who have been spared to return, we to-day give a whole-hearted “welcome home,” and at the same time express our deep appreciation of the services they have rendered, and our gratitude for having taken their part in protecting our hearths and homes. To all those who are still in service, we wish a speedy return to the more peaceful pursuits of our movement, so that they, with us, may help forward the day of the Co-Operative commonwealth. At a time like this we cannot forget, and we would not if we could, those of our number who have made the supreme sacrifice of their lives, and once again offer our deepest sympathy with all those who, through the tragedy of war, have lost those who were dear to them. Their names are:

J. W. Brooks, W. Brooks, W. Mace, T. Wild, R. Stinchcombe, W. Collier, R. Brooks, W. Tyers, V. Hancock, J. Horrocks and D. Drinkwater.

In conclusion we venture to express the earnest hope that never again shall you be called upon to leave your homes to engage in warfare, but trust that your future may be peaceful and prosperous, and worthy the sacrifices that have been made. – July 16th, 1919.”

Coalville Times article - Friday October 3rd, 1919

LOCAL NEWS

MEMORIAL SERVICE

On Sunday evening, a memorial service for Messrs. T. Wild and M. Eames, two old boys of the Sunday and Day Schools, who died in Germany, was held at the Coalville Wesleyan Chapel. Mr W. A. Hall was the preacher, and the choir sang, “What are these?” Miss March played the “Dead March.” There was a large congregation.

Coalville Times article - Friday October 10th, 1919

IN MEMORIAM

In ever loving memory of my dear husband, Private T. W. Wild, who died at Ordruff, Germany, October 6th, 1918.

From his Wife and little S

In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Private T. W. Wild, Durham Light Infantry, who died in Germany, October 6th, 1918.

“Days of sadness still come o’er us,
Tears of sorrow oft times flow,
Memory keeps our loved one near us
Whom God called one year ago.
Some day we hope to meet him,
Some day, we know not when,
To clasp his hand in the Better Land,
Never to part again.”

From his sorrowing Mother, Father, Sisters and Brothers.

Coalville Times article - Friday October 1st, 1920

IN MEMORIAM

WILD – In ever loving memory of our dear son and brother, T. W. Wild, who died while a prisoner of war in Germany on October 6th, 1918.

“We miss him and mourn him in silence unseen,
And dwell on the happiness of what might have been.
We had hoped for his safe returning,
Once more to clasp his hand.
But God has postponed out meeting,
Till we meet in the better land.”

From his loving Mother, Father, Sisters and Brothers.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 28/5/2018