Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Ladkin, born 1857 in Earl Shilton, Leicestershire and his wife Mary Ellen Ladkin (nee Ford, married on the 10th February 1880 in the Parish Church, Earl Shilton, Leicestershire), born 1858 in Washwood Heath, Warwickshire. Thomas was born on the 20th December 1885 in Earl Shilton and was baptised on the 11th April 1886 in the Parish Church, Earl Shilton, his siblings were, Sarah Ann Ford, a schoolgirl, born 1878, Emily, a schoolgirl, born 12th April 1880, Mary, a schoolgirl, born 23rd May 1882 and James, born 30th November 1887 and baptised on the 14th October 1888 in the Parish Church Earl Shilton, all his siblings were born in Earl Shilton, in April 1891 the family home was at Cake Lane, Earl Shilton. Thomas’ sister Emily died in June 1898 in Earl Shilton, aged 18. In March 1901 Thomas was employed as a shoe trade riveter and was residing in the family home at 58, Keats Lane, Earl Shilton, together with his father, a glove maker, his mother and siblings, Mary, a shoe trade heel builder, James, a shoe trade worker, Ralph, born 4th September 1891 and baptised on the 8th November 1891 in the Parish Church, Earl Shilton, George Stanley, born 2nd March 1895 and baptised on the 21st April 1895 in the Parish Church, Earl Shilton and Jennie, born 1898 and baptised on the 11th December 1898 in the Parish Church, Earl Shilton, the latter three siblings were all born in Earl Shilton. In April 1911 Thomas was employed as a boot trade laster and was residing in the family home at 66, Keats Lane, Earl Shilton, together with his father, a framework knitter, his mother and siblings, James, a boot trade laster, Ralph, a boot trade laster, George a hosiery trade warehouseman and Jennie, a schoolgirl.
Thomas enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 11th December 1915 in Hinckley, Leicestershire, and was allotted the service number 25722. He gave his age as 29 years 356 days and his trade or calling as shoe hand lasting department.
His medical examination took place in Hinckley on the 11th December 1915 and recorded his apparent age as 29 years 356 days, that he was 5-feet 7½ inches in height, weighed 142 lbs and he had a chest measurement of between 33 and 35 inches.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Attested. 11/12/15.
To Army Reserve. 11/12/15.
Mobilized. 29/2/16.
Posted. Depot, Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 29/2/16.
Posted. To 3rd Bn. Leicestershire Regt., Patrington. 3/3/16.
Embarked. To join the Expeditionary Force from Folkestone. 3/8/16.
Posted. To 12th Infantry Brigade Depot, France. 4/8/16.
Posted. To 8th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. 5/8/16.
Admitted. To 1st New Zealand Field Ambulance suffering from pleurodynia. In the Field. 19/9/16.
Admitted. To 65th Field Ambulance suffering from N.Y.D. pyrexia. In the Field. 13/11/16.
Re-joined Battalion. In the Field. 5/12/16.
Granted. -?- pay -?- on 11/12/17.
Missing in action. In the Field. 23/3/18.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 29/2/16 – 3/8/16. 156 days.
British Expeditionary Force, France. 4/8/16 – 23/3/18. 1 year 232 days.
Total Service. 2 years 23 days.
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers’ documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the “burnt documents.” As a consequence, the content and condition of the surviving records can range from good to extremely poor. The hand written information is, in some instances barely legible, and the number of pages that should comprise a full record, in some cases are either badly damaged or missing entirely, however where possible the available information has been transcribed so that it may at least offer the reader a little descriptive insight into some, if not all of the events and background information surrounding the period of service.
The War Diary records: 23 Mar-18 - GREEN LINE EAST OF TEMPLEUX LA FOSSE. At midnight 22nd/23rd March the Brigade moved forward from AIZECOURT LE HAUT to take its place in the GREEN LINE, east of GURLU WOOD (A1). The move was completed by 3.00am on the 23rd March. The enemy attacked along the whole GREEN LINE at 7.30am and broke through to the south of TEMPLEUX. The right flank of the Division was again left in the air, under heavy pressure the line fell back to the PERONNE – CAMBRAI ROAD west of GURLU WOOD, where the enemy was held in check for some considerable time by rifle fire. The continued advance of the enemy on PERONNE made a further withdrawal necessary and during the course of the morning the line swung back to the neighbourhood of BOUCHAVESNES (AMIENS L1). During the night of the 23rd/24th March the Battalion moved into a position north east of CLERY SUR SOMME (AMIENS K1), the whole Division being in the neighbourhood.