Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Bellairs Pryor, a gas works labourer, born 1862 in Great Dalby, Leicestershire, and his wife Fanny Pryor, born 1865 in Ab Kettleby, Leicestershire. Thomas William was born on the 28th June 1894 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Florence, born 1890, Elsie, born 1891 and Fanny, born 1901 all his siblings were born in Melton Mowbray, also residing with the family was Thomas’s step Uncle, Alfred Randal, a railway labourer, born 1877 in Leicestershire, in March 1901 the family home was at 32, Sidney Street, Melton Mowbray. In April 1911 Thomas was employed as a boot shop assistant and was residing in the family home at Rosebery Avenue, Melton Mowbray, together with his father, an electric works stoker, his mother and siblings, Fanny, a schoolgirl and Gertrude, a schoolgirl, born 1903 in Melton Mowbray.
Thomas enrolled into the Royal Naval Division on the 11/12/15 and was allocated the service number B.Z/ 5072 in Bristol, Gloucestershire. He gave place of residence as 11, Rosebery Avenue, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, his date of birth as 28th June 1894 and his trade or calling as boot shop assistant. He confirmed that he was able to swim. He gave his father, Mr. W. B. Pryor of 11, Rosebery Avenue, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 6 inches in height, he had a chest measurement of between 33½ and 35 inches and his complexion was described as Fair, his hair colour was light brown and he had blue eyes, He gave his religion as Chapel. His record of service began when he was called up on the 15/6/16. Taken on the strength and posted to HMS Victory IX, RND, 4th Reserve Battalion at Blandford on the 15/6/16. Posted to HMS Victory IX, RND, 3rd Reserve Battalion at Blandford on the 31/7/16. Rated Able Bodied Seaman at HMS Victory IX, RND, at Blandford on the 1/10/16. Entrained at Blandford to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the night of the 21-22/11/16. Posted to Drake Battalion RND on the 23/11/16. Joined the Drake Battalion from the Base Depot on the 12/12/16. Admitted to the 11th Casualty Clearing Station at Varennes on the 5/2/17 suffering from a shell wound to his left arm and subsequently died from the wounds received in action on the 5/2/17. Buried in Varennes British Cemetery by Reverend T. Sands, Chaplain to the Forces.
The War Diary records: 4 Feb-17 – BEAUCOURT TRENCH. 6.00am. In accordance with 189th Infantry Brigade Order W60. PUSIEUX and RIVER trenches were captured and consolidated, Several local counter attacks were beaten off. Estimated number of prisoners 120, chiefly of the 31st R.I.R. 84th Fusiliers and 230th R.I.R. Barrage was reported to be satisfactory. 7.30am. Contact aeroplanes were over our lines working in connection with our artillery. The klaxon horn was heard at intervals from the machines, it is reported that our guns had several direct hits on gun emplacements. 9.00am. Enemy artillery quiet during the day. Reported that the HAWKE Battalion had captured the strong point at R.2.a.6.65., which had given some trouble during the attack on PUSIEUX and RIVER trenches. 10.00am. Enemy endeavoured to break our new line, attacking from the South along MIRAUMONT – BEAUCOURT Road. Strength estimated at one Company. They were repulsed with loss. Enemy shelled our position heavily. 10.07am. S.O.S. signal from our lines, our artillery responded and opened an intense barrage upon all the approaches to our newly gained ground. Barrage slackened at 11.30am. 12.00 Noon. Enemy artillery exceedingly active. reported Sub Lieutenant’s EDE and WOODFORD wounded. 9.30pm. Enemy opened tremendous barrage on the whole sector, particularly roads, HAMEL – BEAUCOURT, BEAUCOURT – MIRAUMONT, under cover of which he again counter attacked PUSIEUX and RIVER trenches. Enemy were again beaten off with loss. Our own casualties, among officers and men reported to be heavy. Midnight. For further details of operations see APPENDIX A.
The War Diary records: 5 Feb-17 – BEAUCOURT TRENCH. 6.00am. Front resumed its normal quietness. 6.00pm. Battalion moved into reserve in old German front line system at Q.18.c.5,9. (Map Reference 57d South East 1-20,000).
On Friday February 16th 1917 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR” – MELTONIAN KILLED IN ACTION. It is our painful duty to record the death of Able Seaman Thomas William Pryor, only son of Mr. And Mrs. W. B. Pryor, 11, Rosebery Avenue, Melton Mowbray, which occurred at the Western front on the 5th inst. The news reached his parents on Saturday morning in the following letter: Record Office, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. 9th Feb. 1917. Sir, - It is my painful duty to inform you that a report has this day been received from the War Office notifying the death of your son, Able Seaman Thomas William Pryor, Bristol Z/5072, Drake Battalion 63rd (Royal Naval) Division, which occurred at 11th Casualty Clearing Station, B.E.F., on the 5th Feb. 1917, and I am to express to you the sympathy and regret of this division at your loss. The cause of death was shell wound in left arm. I have the honour to be, your obedient servant, J. Simpson, Major. Deceased who was 22 years of age, entered the employment of Messrs. Freeman, Hardy and Willis, as errand boy, at their local branch on leaving school at the age of 13 years and worked himself up to the position of assistant. He proved a most capable and faithful servant for a period of eight years, and only left on the 15th of last June to join up with his group. After training with the Royal Naval Division, he went out to the front on Nov. 21st but had only been in the trenches a very short time when he met with his death. Much sympathy will be felt for the bereaved parents. And in the same issue under the heading, “BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS” – THANKS – Mr. and Mrs. W. Pryor and family, 11, Rosebery Avenue, Melton Mowbray, wish to thank the large number of friends for their kind sympathy and for letters of condolence received in the loss of their only son, T. W. Pryor.
On Friday February 8th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.” – IN MEMORIAM. – PRYOR.- In loving memory of our dearly loved son and brother, Thomas William Pryor, Royal Naval Division, who died in France, of wounds received in action, February 5th, 1917. Rest in Peace, Father, Mother and Sisters.