Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Mowbray a groom and domestic servant, born 1842 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, and his wife Elizabeth Mowbray (nee Fox, married on the 28th January 1866 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire), born 1841 in Werrington, Northamptonshire. Thomas was born in the 3rd quarter of 1877 in Melton Mowbray, his siblings were, Mary Lizzie, a schoolgirl, born 1868, John William, a schoolboy, born 1870, George, a schoolboy, born 1872, Catherine, a schoolgirl, born 1874, Lydia, a schoolgirl, born 1876 and Walter, born 1880, in April 1881 the family home was at Melbourne Street, Melton Mowbray. In April 1891 Thomas was employed as a shoemaker’s apprentice and was residing in the family home at Sidney Street, Melton Mowbray together with his father, a groom, his mother and siblings, George, a clerk, Lydia, Walter and Edith Ellen. In March 1901 Thomas was employed as a railway goods porter and was residing in the family home at 7, Sidney Street, Melton Mowbray together with his father, a groom, his mother and siblings, George, a solicitor’s clerk, Walter, a general mechanic and Edith Ellen, In April 1911 Thomas was employed as a blast furnace labourer and was residing in the family home at 28, Bentley Street, Melton Mowbray, together with his wife, Charlotte Mowbray (nee Underwood, married in the 1st quarter of 1903 in the Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire district), born 1879 in Asfordby, Leicestershire, and their children, May, born 1903 in Asfordby, Cecil, born 1909 and Dorothy, born 1910, the latter two siblings were both born in Melton Mowbray, also residing with the family was his sister Ellen. After April 1911, the following further children were born, Mabel in 1911, Ethel in 1913, Charles in 1914 and Eric in 1916, all the children were born in Melton Mowbray. In the 2nd quarter of 1919, Thomas’s widow married John A. Wheatcroft, in the Melton Mowbray, district, they resided at 82, Saxby Road, Melton Mowbray.
The War Diary records: 3 May-17 - BOYELLES. The attack on the village of FONTAINE-LES-CROISILLES was made on this day. There were three objectives, 1st SENSEE RIVER from approximately T.18.b.5.3. to U.2.b.5.5. 2nd junction of SENSEE RIVER and SUNKEN ROAD at T.18.b.5.3. – U.7.c.6.5. – U.7.d.7.8. – U.14.a.7.2. – U.4.c.4.3. The 64th Infantry Brigade to bomb south eastwards down HINDENBURG LINE. Two tanks were attached to the 110th Infantry Brigade. Zero hour was at 3.45am (summer time) and the attack started under a creeping barrage. The Battalion was disposed in two waves of two lines each, with a wave of moppers up behind. From right to left “A” Company (Lt. J. R. GLOVER) “B” Company (Captain A. G. ASTLE) “C” Company (Major T. L. WARNER) formed the line of attack each Company having a two platoon frontage. “D” Company (2nd Lt J. W. CORBETT) was drawn up in two lines, 60 yards in rear. The formation was two waves, each of two lines 10 yards between lines and 60 yards between waves with “D” Company as moppers up. The 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT attached on the left of the Battalion. On the right, the flank was secured by the possession of the HINDENBURG LINE as far as the BLOCK, beyond this the flank was to be secured by the 64th Infantry Brigade. Bombing attack down the line. The morning was very dark, sunrise was not until 5.23am (summer time), the dust and smoke from our own barrage and that of the enemy which opened almost simultaneously, making it impossible to see more than a few yards ahead. Direction was lost rather early and the line swung over to the right, being compelled thereto by the 18th Division on the left, crossing the front of the 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT and pressing then to the right. By 6.00am it became evident that the attack had failed. No progress had been made by the 64th Infantry Brigade bombers in the HINDENBURG LINE, and the front of the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT was outflanked, in parts surrounded, and with a prospect of being cut off. The left flank (“C” Company) had been held up by excessive machine gun fire and took up a position in the sunken road running into FONTAINE-LES-CROISILLES through U.1.b. The remainder of the Battalion were on a line roughly 300 yards south of the jumping off place BROWN TRENCH T.6.a., N.36.c. and d. to road in O.31.c. Here the Battalion remained and at about 11.30am, it was reinforced by the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. This line was held throughout the day and consolidated. No assistance was given by the two Tanks during the attack, both of them breaking down. The following casualties were suffered by the Battalion during the action, Officers. Captain A. G. ASTLE and 2nd Lt. F. E. PRATLEY killed, Major T. L. WARNER, 2nd Lt. G. B. JOHNSON, 2nd Lt. R. J. HARRIS, 2nd Lt. R. L. SENNETT and 2nd Lt. P. H. HILL wounded, Lt. F. R. OLIVER missing believed wounded and Prisoner of War, 2nd Lt. F. W. H. CLARKE wounded and Prisoner of War, 2nd Lt’s F. B. PITTS and W. HARRIS Prisoners of War. Other Ranks. Killed 19, wounded 101, missing 168, died of wounds 3. Total 11 officers, 291 other ranks.
On Friday May 25th 1917 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR” – ANOTHER MELTONIAN MISSING.- On Saturday Mrs T. Mowbray, 82, Saxby Road, Melton Mowbray, received the following letter:- “13th May 1917. Dear Madam, - I am very sorry to inform you that your husband is missing. I am very sorry I cannot tell you more about it, but in things like this it takes time to find out for sure, and I expect you will hear more about it in due course from the authorities. The reason I am sending you these few lines is because I had this book and note given to me by a fellow who picked them up, and he gave them to me to send to you, as I am a Melton lad, and knew your husband quite well. I think you will know me when I tell you my name is Dunckley, and that I used to go with Mr Manchester’s coal dray. Should I hear anything further I will let you know. It is possible that he may have been wounded and taken prisoner. I am, yours sincerely, (Private) W. Dunckley.” With this note was forwarded Pte. Mowbray’s prayer book, inside which was a note he had received from his niece, and on the back of which he had written. “Please forward these things to my wife, Mrs T. Mowbray, 82, Saxby Road, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, England.” Mrs Mowbray has not heard from her husband for three weeks. He was formerly employed at Holwell Works, and enlisted in July 1915. He has not been home for 18 months.
On Friday July 6th 1917 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR” – MISSING MELTONIAN. Inquiries concerning the fate of Pte. T. Mowbray, who was some weeks ago reported missing, have failed to elicit any satisfactory information. His wife who resides at 82, Saxby Road, Melton Mowbray has this week received the following letter from the chaplain:- “24th June 1917. Dear Mrs Mowbray,- In reply to your letter I am sorry to say that we cannot add any information to the news that your dear husband is missing. He went into action and has not been seen or heard of since. As far as we know he was not even seen to be wounded. Whether he was taken prisoner or not, we cannot say. It seems rather improbable, but there is just a very faint hope. Of course if he had been hit by a shell it may have rendered identification impossible. This does happen and in consequence causes us to report people missing. I am truly sorry for you in your anxiety and suspense and do wish I could help you more but as there is no more news I cannot. I trust God will give you strength to bear this load of suspense.- Yours in sincere sympathy, Sydney W. Groom, C.F.” Mrs Mowbray would be glad to receive news of her husband if this should happen to meet the eye of any soldier at the front who can impart any information concerning him.
On Friday November 23rd 1917 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – A MISSING MELTONIAN. – Some weeks ago we announced that Private Thomas Mowbray, 20624 B. Co., Leicestershire Regiment, whose home is at 82, Saxby Road, Melton, was officially reported missing. Mrs. Mowbray has since been in communication with the Enquiry Department of the British Red Cross Society and this week has received the following letter from the Earl of Lucan:- Dear Madam, - I know how very anxious you must be about your husband who has now been missing so many months. We have been doing our utmost to obtain some reliable news; but I regret to say we have not succeeded. All we have heard is that Pte. Carr. 18813 in the same company, went over the top with your husband, in the early morning, on May 3rd, and Thomas was never seen again. As our men did not take the ground that day, it was difficult to find out what happened to our killed and wounded. I know how hard to bear this suspense must be, and, we wish we could hold out any hope that your husband was taken prisoner; but had this been so, we should have heard of him by now. Rest assured if any news comes through we shall write to you at once. Please accept our sympathy in your trouble.
On Friday March 15th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – PRESUMED DEAD. – Mrs. C. Mowbray, 82, Saxby rd., Melton Mowbray, has received an official notification from the Infantry Record Office, Lichfield, that no further news having been received of her husband, Pte. T. Mowbray, Leicestershire Regiment, who has been missing since May 5th, 1917, the Army Council have been regretfully constrained to conclude that he is dead.
On Friday April 12th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” _MELTONIAN’S UNCERTAIN FATE. – Mrs. T. Mowbray, 82, Saxby rd., Melton Mowbray, has this week received the following letter from the British Red Cross and Order of St. John with reference to her husband who has been missing since May 3rd last year: “Dear Madam, - We much regret to say that notwithstanding constant and careful enquiries, we have not been able to hear anything further of your husband and have had to come to the conclusion that he must have lost his life at the time when he was missing. We have questioned all the men of his unit whom we have been able to see, both in English hospitals and at the bases abroad, and none of them has been able to throw any light of his casualty. We have, however, been able to collect some details about the action, and we enclose a copy of these, fearing that in spite of all our efforts we shall not be able to help you any further in the matter. We do indeed watch all the Prisoners’ lists as they come in from Germany, but we cannot hope to find there, any names of men missing so long ago. We wish to offer our sincere sympathy to the family and friends. Yours faithfully, V. C., for the Earl of Lucan.” The report attached was as follows. – 8th Leicestershire Regt. May 3rd, 1917. Our reports state that the 8th Leicesters lost many men in an attack at dawn on Fontaine, near Bullecourt on May 3rd, 1917. The supports on both sides were driven back and thus exposed the Battalion to great danger of being surrounded. One Company was actually cut off by the enemy though some of the Company managed to escape. The shell fire was very heavy, but it was the machine gun fire which prevented the success of the attack. A soldier tells us; “We got to within 30 yards of the German first line. We could go no further, and remained in shell holes during the day. At night we got back to our lines which we held.”