Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son Thomas Brindley a shoe trade riveter, born 1849 in Enderby, Leicestershire and his wife Elizabeth Bessie) Brindley (nee Clark, married on the 21st September 1884 in the Parish Church, Aylestone, Leicestershire), born 1864 in Blaby, Leicestershire. Thomas was born on the 29th February 1888 in Blaby, his siblings were Elizabeth Rebecca, born 1885 in Wigston Magna, Leicestershire and William Frank, born 14th February 1890 in Blaby, in April 1891 the family home was at Paradise Row, Blaby. In March 1901 Thomas was employed as a market gardener’s boy and was residing in the family home at 7, Gladstone Street, Wigston Magna, together with his father, a shoemaker, his mother a hosiery trade seamer and his siblings, Rebecca, a stocking framework knitter, William, Cecil, born 1895 in Leicester, Emma, born 1897 and Lizzie, born 1899, the latter two siblings were both born in Wigston Magna. In April 1911 Thomas was employed as railway worker and was an army pensioner and was residing in the family home at Frederick Street, Wigston Magna, together with his father, an army pensioner and boot maker, his mother and siblings, Rebecca, a Griswold knitter, William, a hosiery trade cotton winder, Cecil, a shoe trade worker, Emma, a hosiery trade worker, Lizzie, a schoolgirl and Leslie, born 1903 in Wigston Magna. Thomas married Nellie Mellowes on the 27th September 1913 in the Parish Church, Oadby, Leicestershire, Nellie was born on the 14th October 1886 in Oadby. They had two sons, Alfred Herbert, born 10th March 1914 in Blaby and Thomas, born, 1st August 1916, in Wigston, in 1939 Nellie and Thomas were residing at 58, London Road, Oadby. His younger brother William Frank fell in action in August 1917.
Thomas attested into the Militia to serve an engagement of 6 years on the 14th March 1904 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Blaby, Leicestershire, present home address as 6, Gladstone Street, South Wigston, Leicestershire and his present employer as Mr. Lennard, Shoe Manufacturer, Asylum Street, Leicester. He gave his age as 17 years and 7 months and his trade or calling as shoe hand. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father Thomas Brindley, his mother Elizabeth Brindley, his younger brothers, William, Cecil and Leslie, older sister, Rebbecca and younger sisters Emma and Elizabeth, all of 6, Gladstone Street, South Wigston as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 3¾ inches in height, weighed 107 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 31 and 33½ inches. His complexion was described as fresh, he had grey eyes and brown hair, it was noted that he had a large mole on his right muscle and a tattoo of a pierced heart on his left forearm. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Militia on the 14th March 1904 in Leicester.
His record of Militia service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 8827 on the 14/3/04. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and commenced 76 days drill training on the 14/3/04. Transferred to the Leicestershire Regiment as a Regular soldier on the 16/9/04.
Thomas attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement of 3 years with the Colours and 9 years in the Reserve on the 16th September 1904 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Blaby, Wigston, Leicestershire, his age as 18 years and his trade or calling as labourer, he confirmed that he was unmarried. He stated that he was presently serving with the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, Militia. He gave his father Thomas, mother Elizabeth, younger brothers William, Cecil and Leslie, older sister Rebecca and younger sisters, Emma and Lizzie, all of 14, Leicester Road, Wigston Magna, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 4½ inches in height, weighed 110 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 31½ and 34 inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his eyes were blue and he had light brown hair. It was noted that he had a scar on the right side of his chin. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Army on the 16th September 1904 in Leicester. A follow up medical examination after six months service and a gymnastics course recorded his height as 5 foot 5 inches, his weight as 115 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 32½ and 35 inches. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 7475 on the 16/9/04. Awarded his 3rd Class Army Certificate of Education on the 8/12/05. Transferred to the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 9/1/05. Posted -?- on the 21/9/06. -?- on the 16/9/06. Transferred to Section “B” Army Reserve on the 15/9/07. Enrolled Section “A” Army Reserve on the 18/11/07. Section “B” -?- on the 16/9/08. Mobilised at Leicester on the 5/8/14. Posted to the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 9/11/14. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 9/11/14. Admitted to the 19th Brigade Field Ambulance suffering from a gunshot wound to foot (severe) on the 10/3/15. Transferred to the 14th General Hospital on the 12/3/15. Posted to the Depot on the 12/3/15. Forfeits pay for absence (8 days) 7-14/12/15. Embarked from Southampton to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 21/12/15. Posted to the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 21/12/15. Joined the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, in the field on the 9/1/16. Admitted to the 17th Field Ambulance suffering from a knee injury on the 4/5/16. Transferred to the 6th D.R.S. on the 17/5/16. Posted to Details on the 24/5/16. Joined the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, in the field on the 24/5/16. Awarded 5 days Field Punishment No. 2 for misconduct on the 22/8/16. Wounded in action, in the field on the 26/9/16. Admitted to 14th C.M.D.S. on the 28/9/16. Admitted to 2/2nd Lowland Casualty Clearing Station on the 6/10/16 where he died of his wounds. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 16/9/04 – 8/11/14, 10 years 54 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 9/11/14 - 11/3/15, 123 days. Home Service, 12/3/15 – 20/12/15, 284 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 21/12/15 - 6/10/16, 291 days. Total service 12 years and 22 days. He was awarded the 1914 Star, British War and Victory medals. Thomas’ widow and two children were awarded a weekly pension of twenty two shilling and eleven pence to commence on the 16th April 1917. Thomas’s surviving service documents are in poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 26 Sep-16 - At 5.40pm operational order number 95 was received. Moved to trenches east of MORVAL. Forming up -?- till reaching MORVAL when a heavy barrage was opened. Relieved 16th ROYAL WARWICKSHIRE REGIMENT and the 1st CHESHIRE REGIMENT. Relief complete at 1.30am “A” (right) Company shared trench with the Germans and our -?- was heavier all day with rifle grenades and bombs. “A” and “C” Company’s occupied THUNDER TRENCH. Gap of 500 yards -?- the exact position of enemy unknown and patrols failed to locate him on North. At entrance of 500 yards. Platoon of each of “A” and “C” dug trench up into the gap and dug in and shortened the gap by 200 yards to 250 yards. Casualties 3 killed and 10 wounded.