Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Wilbur, a shoe trade riveter, born 1850 in Hinckley, Leicestershire and his wife Mary Ann Wilbur (nee Cobley, married in the 1st quarter of 1873 in the Hinckley, Leicestershire district)), born 1851 in Hinckley. Thomas was born in the 2nd quarter of 1889 in Hinckley, his siblings were, Charles John, a shoe trade riveter, born 15th June 1873, Elizabeth, a hosiery trade stitcher, born 1876, William Thomas, a shoe trade finisher, born 1877, Mary Ann, a schoolgirl, born 1887 and Ellen, a schoolgirl, born 1887, in April 1891 the family home was at Baileys Yard, Hill Street, Hinckley. In March 1901 Thomas was residing in the family home at 12, Hill Street, Hinckley, together with his father, a shoe trade worker, his mother and siblings, John Joseph, a shoe trade worker, born 11th April 1879 and Frederick John, a shoe trade worker, born 3rd August 1881, the latter two siblings were both born in Hinckley, Mary, a hosiery trade worker, Sarah E., Arthur, born 1892 and Percy, born 14th December 1893, the latter two siblings were both born in Hinckley. In April 1911 Thomas was employed as a hosiery trade trimmer and was residing in the family home at 12, Hill Street, Hinckley, together with his widowed father, unable to work, and his siblings, Joseph, a shoe trade pressman, John, a newsagent and paper seller, Nellie a hosiery trade linker, Arthur, a shoe trade pressman and Percy, a hosiery trade runner on, also residing in the family home was his cousin, Nellie Dexter, a schoolgirl and errand girl, born 1899 in Hinckley. Thomas was officially recorded at birth with the surname spelling Wilbur, however he is variously recorded in documents with the spellings of Wilebore and Wildbore. Thomas was awarded the British War and Victory medals.
NARRATIVE OF ACTIONS ON 3rd FEBRUARY 1917.
1/4th BATTALION THE DEVONSHIRE REGIMENT.
The Devons now found themselves in support to the 36th and 45th Sikhs, who were holding lines known as Mathew Trench and Gunning Trench. Here the battalion came in for some shelling but escaped fairly lightly, having Captain Stamp and a dozen men wounded and a couple killed. Meanwhile the artillery had been pounding away at the next line of trenches, and on February 1st these were stormed by the two Sikh battalions, the Devons moving up into Mathew and Gunning trenches in support. However the Sikhs had lost heavily in taking the position, and soon found themselves very hard pressed, when the Turks began counter-attacking in force. They made a splendid fight, but in the end a scanty remnant was forced to quit the captured trench. Orders for the Devons and 1/2nd Gurkhas to renew the attack were issued, but immediately cancelled, the attack being postponed till February 3rd, to allow the Turkish line to be subjected to a more searching bombardment. All through the next day, therefore (February 2nd), the battalion remained in the front line preparing for the assault, and doing what it could to rescue wounded Sikhs who were lying out in front.
By 7.30am, on February 3rd, the battalion was ready, “A” and “C” Companies in Gunning Trench, “B” and “D” behind them in Mathew, with the 1/2nd Gurkhas on their right and the 62nd Punjabis of the 36th Brigade in support. Each company was in four waves of a platoon apiece, with the Lewis Guns all on the outer flanks, and the battalion bombers accompanying “D”s leading platoon. The orders were that, after capturing and consolidating the double line of trenches in their front, the battalion was to bomb along a trench running N.W.
Punctually at 10 o’clock the Devons dashed forward, undeterred by the fact that they had seen two battalions dashed to pieces only two days before in attacking these very same trenches. “It was the sight of a life-time,” wrote one private in “A” Company, “to see the line of platoons walking over through a very hell. The regiment did fine. We had the Ghurkhas with us – I would not wish for better company if we go into action again.” Indeed there was no stopping the men. They had crept forward during the last minutes of the bombardment and were just short of the Turkish lines, waiting for the guns to lift. “A” Company (2nd Lieutenant Dodd) on the left ran into our own barrage when it reached the front Turkish trench, but the gunners lifted directly they saw the artillery discs waved, and “A” followed the barrage into the second trench, over it and into the nullah beyond. “D,” under Lieutenant Thoday followed hard on “A”s heels; the first three platoons went straight on to the second line, helped “A”s bombers to clear it, and then pushed on to the nullah. Nor did they stop there, but pressing on ahead overtook the barrage, and lost heavily before falling back to the nullah. “C” and “B” were equally successful, though the Turks resisted stubbornly and were not easily dislodged. Sergt. Ridler took charge of his company when all its officers had fallen, and led it with skill and success, while Lce.-Cpl. Marshall was conspicuous in clearing the second line; he pushed on ahead into a bay containing five Turks; the first of whom he laid out with his rifle-butt, smashing his weapon in the act. Quite undeterred he picked up another rifle, shot three more, and finished up by bayoneting the last man. Sergt Stark did fine work in reorganising his men, putting the captured trench into a state of defence, and fetching up ammunition under heavy fire. (All these three were awarded the D.C.M., as were Ptes. Bowd and Morris for repairing telephone wires under heavy fire.)
Meanwhile, on the left, bombers were pushing down the trench running N.W., clearing the Turks out of dug-outs and inflicting heavy losses on them, thereby securing a much-exposed flank. More than once the Turks counter-attacked, but the 62nd Punjabis reinforced, and by their help all counter-attacks were beaten off and the line successfully consolidated; indeed, next morning the battalion with the Hampshires and 62nd advanced another 200 yards to another Turkish trench which was found to be evacuated, the Turks having gone right back to the Liquorish Factory just West of Kut. As the official witness (Mr. Edmund Candler; cf. The Long Road to Baghdad, II) wrote: “February 3rd has been a decisive day in the Salient.”
But this brilliant success had cost the battalion dear; it had taken 15 officers and 403 men into the attack, only 5 officers and 186 men coming out un-hit. Major Woollcombe and Lieutenant’s Statham, Partington and McEachran had been killed with 63 men; five were missing; Lieutenant Vodden, 2nd Lieutenant’s Kingwell, Pengelly, Wetherall, Benthall and Thompson and 149 men were returned wounded. Major Woollcombe, who had served the 4th Devons so well as Adjutant, was killed ahead of his men, setting a splendid example, and his death was much regretted. Losses notwithstanding, such was the men’s spirit that when orders that their relief arrived, they asked to be allowed to carry on, a request specially praised by the Army Commander in his telegram of congratulation. Still the battalion was too weak for further fighting, and on 6th February orders were received for the 2nd Norfolks, 14th Sikhs and 67th Punjabis to replace temporarily in the 37th Brigade the 4th Devons and the two Sikh battalions, pending their replenishment by drafts.
(Extract taken from the Devonshire Regiment 1914 – 1918, Volume One, compiled by C. T. Atkinson. Late Captain Oxford University O.T.C. Published 1926.)
On Wednesday February 28th 1917 The Leicester Mercury published the following article under the heading. “ROLL OF HONOUR” - “LOCAL MEN IN THE CASUALTY LISTS” - The following local casualties are officially reported. All are Private’s except where otherwise shown. KILLED. DEVONSHIRE REGIMENT.- Wilbur, 4429 T. (Hinckley).