Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Claud Alexander Vincent, born 1865 in Yeovil, Somerset and his wife Mary Louisa Vincent (nee Day, married in the 3rd quarter of 1895 in the Bedminster, Somerset district), born 1867 in Bristol, Gloucestershire. Thomas was born in the October quarter of 1897 in Weston Super Mare, Somerset. In March 1901 Thomas was absent from the family home at South View, Evenwood and Barony, Auckland, County Durham. residing there was his father a Church of England Curate, his mother and brother Frederick Marcos, born 3rd January 1900 in Weston Super Mare, Thomas was residing at Florendale, Weston Super Mare, this being the family home of his widowed maternal Grandmother, Jessie Day, living on her own means, born 1837 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, also residing in the family home was his Aunt, Minnie Day, living on her own means, born 1860 in Bristol and also his Cousin, Ruby Cornall, born 1888 in Finsbury, Middlesex. In April 1911 Thomas was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at 12, Bolam Terrace, Felling, Heworth, County Durham, together with his father, a Clergyman of the Established Church, his mother and sibling, Frederick, a schoolboy. In the April quarter of 1911 in the Gateshead, County Durham district, Thomas’s mother died aged 44. On the 27th June 1914 Thomas’s father married Ada Lacon Harvey in the Paddington St. John, Middlesex district, Ada was born on the 17th October 1873. In 1939 Thomas’s brother, an oxy-acetylene welder was residing with his widowed step mother in the family home at 67, St. Martins, High Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire.
Thomas attested into the Territorial Force to serve (One year’s Embodied Service at Home) on the 27th August 1914 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Weston Super Mare, Somerset, his age as 17 years and he stated that he had no trade or calling and he confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father, The Reverend Claud Vincent of Enderby Vicarage, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination that took place on the 27th August 1914 in Leicester, recorded that he gave his birthplace as Weston Super Mare, Somerset, his declared age was given as 17 years and he was 5-foot 9½ inches in height, weighed 154 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 37 and 40 inches. He gave his religion as Church of England.
His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 2339 on the 27/8/14.
Posted. To the 4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and embodied service commenced. 27/8/14.
Embarked. To join the British Expeditionary Force in France. 1/3/15.
Posted. Missing in action, In the Field. 13/10/15.
Confirmed. As killed in action. 13/10/15.
His body was found by the 1st Battalion Scots Guards. In the Field. 31/10/15.
A summary of his service records:
Home Service, 27/8/14 – 1/3/15, 187 days.
British Expeditionary Force, France, 2/3/15 – 13/10/15, 226 days,
Total service, 1 year 48 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals.
Thomas’s surviving service documents are in poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 13 Oct-15 - At noon our artillery started to bombard. At 1.00pm our smoke and gas started. At 1.50pm smoke and gas stopped. At 2.00pm artillery lifted and Battalion assaulted the HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT. Lieutenant Colonel R. E. MARTIN was wounded early but remained in the fire trench directing operations for nearly 24 hours and until -?- to the dressing station by Brigadier General KEMP. All officers of the Battalion either killed or wounded.
The War Diary records: 14 Oct-15 - In the evening the Battalion was relieved by part of the 139th Brigade and went back to the LANCASHIRE TRENCH. Roll call revealed that 188 NCO’s and men returned.
The Official History of the War – Military Operations (France and Belgium 1915 Volume II) provided the following statistics for the 1/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, officers killed 20, other ranks killed 453. Total losses for the day were 138th Brigade 64 officers and 1,476 other ranks. 137th Brigade 68 officers and 1,478 other ranks.
On Saturday, October 30th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – VICAR OF ENDERBY’S SON KILLED. – Private THOMAS ARUNDELL COLLIER VINCENT, 1/4th Leicestershire Regiment (T.F.), who was killed in France on October 13th, was the elder son of the Rev. Claud A. Vincent, vicar of Enderby. He was educated at Clarence School, Weston-Super-Mare, and the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle-on-Tyne, where he was a member of the School Cadet Corps. On the outbreak of the war, he enlisted in the 1/4th Leicester’s, and proceeded to France at the end of February last. He was just 18 years of age, born Oct. 10th 1897. He was a lad of fine physique, and winner of several prizes in the Novocastrian Sports. In writing of his experiences, he said: “Don’t worry about me. We have quite a nice time out here. The work is a bit heavy at times, but of course that only hardens one. You simply can’t fall sick; the life is so healthy. I used to get nervous when I heard the bullets whistle over my head, but I soon lost my nervousness. It is a fine life.” The Rev. Claud Vincent is a brother-in-law of Colonel Robert Harvey, D.S.O., 4th Norfolk’s, now in the Dardanelles. The news of his son’s death was received by the vicar of Enderby yesterday morning, in a letter from Company Sergeant Major McIntyre, of the 1st Scots Guards, who wrote: “I enclose a letter which was taken from the body of a soldier who had been killed. The body was buried on the morning of the 17th inst. by some of my company.” The letter was Mr. Vincent’s letter to his son on his 18th birthday.
On Wednesday, November 3rd, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. FALLEN LEICESTERS. – (A photograph accompanied the article) – Pte. THOS. ARUNDELL COLLIER VINCENT, 4th Leicester’s, elder son of the vicar of Enderby. Killed on October 13th; aged 18 years; photo taken two years ago.
On Tuesday, November 9th, 1915,
The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “From the County.” – Enderby. – Memorial Service. – On Sunday morning a service in memory of Pte. Thomas Arundell Vincent, eldest son of the Rev. Claude A. Vincent, Vicar, who fell in action on October 13th, was held in the Parish Church. The sacred edifice was filled to its utmost capacity with a sympathetic congregation. The members of the Citizens Training Corps paraded at the Drill Hall, where they were joined by several soldiers at present in the village. The squad, under the command of Sergt. Neale, marched to the Church. The Boy Scouts also attended, and at the south door formed a guard of honour to the Rev. F. H. Jocelyn, R.D., (Rector of Blaby), who conducted the service, and preached an impressive sermon from the words: “This is not death.” After the second lesson the “Last Post” was sounded at the tower end of the church by the buglers of the Scouts’ Band, and the anthem. “What are these that are arrayed in white robes?” was rendered by the choir, under the direction of Mr. W. Herbert (choirmaster). The “Dead March” in “Saul” was effectively rendered upon the organ by Mr. Geo. Young. The church bells were muffled throughout the day. The offertory amounted to £3.19s.6d, £2 of which is for the local fund for soldiers and sailors. The remainder being for the church expenses.