Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Kew, a farm wagoner, born 1863 in South Witham, Lincolnshire and his wife Sarah Ann Kew (nee Kettle, married in the 3rd quarter of 1891 in the Grantham, Lincolnshire district), born 1866 in Castle Bytham, Lincolnshire. Tom was born in 1892 in South Witham, his siblings were, Charles, a farm worker, born 1888 in Castle Bytham, Daisy, born 1895 and Lily, born 1896, the latter two siblings were both born in South Witham, John Robert, born 1898 and Evelyn May, born 1901, the latter two siblings were both born in Waltham on the Wolds, Leicestershire, in March 1901 the family home was at Geesons Barn, Waltham on the Wolds. In April 1911 Tom was employed as a green grocer and was residing in the family home at Waltham on the Wolds, together with his father, a farm wagoner, his mother and siblings, Evelyn, Mabel, born 1902 and Sarah Ann, born 1905, the latter two siblings were both born in Waltham on the Wolds.
The War Diary records: 8 Aug-15 - The Battalion had been located at the Ramparts, Ypres near the Menin Gate since the 1st August, dug assembly trenches for the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry and found large carrying parties for Royal Engineers stores. Casualties August 4th to the 8th Lieutenant P. E. Milner (wounded 5th), Lieutenant Burns (wounded 6th), six killed and twenty one wounded.
On Friday August 13th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL AND DISTRICT NEWS.” – WALTHAM. – ROLL OF HONOUR. – We greatly regret to record the death of Pte. Tom Kew, killed in France by a stray bullet on Saturday, August 7th. Pte. Kew was in the 1st Leicesters. He rejoined his regiment August 4th, 1914, and early in the war was sent out with the Expeditionary Force. He was a bright cheerful fellow, and his frequent letters to his old schoolmaster and numerous friends were always written in a happy vein. His particular chums at the front were Lance-Corpl. J. Toon, Corpl. C. Wade, and Pte. F. Jackson (Eaton). Both Wade and Jackson sent the sad news to Waltham stating that he was buried on Sunday last amid all the respect and sympathy of his comrades. He was 25 years of age. He was a great favourite at Waltham, and as a footballer, he was one of Waltham’s best forwards. Only last week he wrote saying what good times he would have when the war was over. His comrades speak of the courage, patience and endurance displayed during the earlier months of the war, when the same men were many days in the trenches. When the news reached Waltham on Wednesday, the church bell was tolled, and the school flag flown at half mast. Footnote to this newspaper entry: Lance Coporal J. Toon and Private F. Jackson both survived the war.