Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Samuel Bosworth a house painter, born in the 2nd quarter of 1841 in Lutterworth, Leicestershire and baptised on the 13th June 1841 in St. Mary’s Church, Lutterworth and his wife Eliza Bosworth (nee Charman, married on the 27th November 1865 in the Beddington and Wallington, Surrey district), born in the 2nd quarter of 1841 in Horsham, Sussex and baptised on the 28th May 1843 in the Parish Church, Horsham. Thomas Herbert, a schoolboy, was born in the 4th quarter of 1884 in Lutterworth and was baptised on the 5th October 1884 in St. Mary’s Church, Lutterworth, his siblings were, William James, a shoe trade riveter, born in the 1st quarter of 1871 and baptised on the 18th February 1871 in St. Mary’s Church, Lutterworth, Rebecca, born on the 29th July 1872 and baptised on the 16th April 1873 in St. Mary’s Church, Lutterworth, Richard, a shoe trade finisher, born in the 2nd quarter of 1874 and baptised on the 14th February 1875 in St. Mary’s Church, Lutterworth, Harry, a painter’s apprentice, born in the 4th quarter of 1875 and baptised on the 13th January 1878 in St. Mary’s Church, Lutterworth, Eliza Kate, born in the 4th quarter of 1877 and baptised on the 13th January 1878 in St. Mary’s Church, Lutterworth, Jane, a schoolgirl, born on the 7th December 1879 and baptised on the 8th February 1880 in St. Mary’s Church, Lutterworth and Mary Ann (Annie), a schoolgirl, born in the 4th quarter of 1881and baptised on the 5th October 1884 in St. Mary’s Church, Lutterworth, all his siblings were born in Lutterworth, in April 1891 the family home was at Church Street, Lutterworth. In March 1901 Thomas was employed as a house painter journeyman and was residing in the family home at Regent Street, Lutterworth, together with his father, a painter and decorator, his mother and siblings, James, a house painter journeyman, Kate, Jane and Ann, a draper’s assistant. In April 1911 Thomas was employed as a house painter and was residing in the family home at Regent Street, Lutterworth, together with his father, a house painter and his mother. Thomas also had the following older siblings, Frederick, born in the 2nd quarter of 1866 and baptised on the 25th July 1866 in St. Mary’s Church, Lutterworth, Ellen, born in the 4th quarter of 1867 and Sarah Elizabeth, born in the 2nd quarter of 1869 and baptised on the 4th August 1869 in St. Mary’s Church, Lutterworth, all the siblings were born in Lutterworth. On the 8th April 1912, Thomas married Edith Ellen Turvey in St. Mary’s Church, Lutterworth, Edith was born on the 11th April 1889 in Brackley, Northamptonshire, they had the following children, Edmund George, born on the 19th January 1914 in Lutterworth, Arthur Thomas, born on the 3rd May 1915 in Lutterworth and Grace Lilian, born on the 15th October 1917 in Staffordshire. The family had by 1917 moved to reside at 142, Station Street, Cheslyn Hay, Walsall, Staffordshire. Thomas’s widow Edith married Samuel Elwell in the 1st quarter of 1921 in the Cannock, Staffordshire district, Samuel was born on the 24th April 1887, they resided at 92, Station Street, Cheslyn Hay. Thomas’s older brother Harry died on the 30th January 1954 in Lutterworth.
Thomas’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, but from the few existing documents that are available in the public domain, it can be confirmed that he enlisted into the Army. The unit he first joined upon enlistment cannot be identified, and the earliest documentary evidence currently available relates to his serving with the 4th Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment with the service number 25301, he was then on an unknown date transferred to the 2/8th Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers, and allotted the service number 48945. It is unknown when Thomas first entered the theatre of war in France, however as he was not recorded on the medal rolls for the 1914-15 Star, it must be assumed that it was at some time after the 31st December 1915. Nothing is known of his military service until he was officially recorded as having been taken captive on the 21st March 1918 at Agnicourt, France, and held in Munster 2 Camp, where he remained a Prisoner of War until the cessation of hostilities. Thomas died on the 5th December 1918 from lobar pneumonia and was buried in Charmes Military Cemetery, Essegney, France. He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal. The Medal War Rolls Ledger indicates that the medals were returned unclaimed on the 26th November 1923, but at a later date, the 10th November 1924, were reissued. Attached is the ledger reference; (Retd. 1743 (12) K.R. C.R.V. 282/B dt. 26/11/23 8149/adt. Re-issued IV. R1/1282 Dt. 10/11/24. a/s H/1971.)
Thomas’s widow Edith was awarded a weekly Army Pension for herself and her three children of twenty nine shillings and seven pence, to commence on the 21st July 1919.
The War Diary entries for the month of March are all missing.