Percy Thom Sergeant 30347 36th Battery Royal Field Artillery

Percy Thom Sergeant 30347 36th Battery Royal Field Artillery was a soldier before WW1. He earned the 1914 Star and was discharged in 1918 with 15 years service

Percy Thom Sergeant 30347 36th Battery Royal Field Artillery was a soldier before WW1. He earned the 1914 Star and was discharged in 1918 with 15 years service.

Percy Thom 1884-1934

Sergeant 30347 36th Battery Royal Field Artillery

Percy Thom Sergeant 30347 36th Battery Royal Field Artillery was a soldier before WW1. He earned the 1914 Star and was discharged in 1918 with 15 years service.

Percy Thom was the son of John Thom and Esther Jane nee Bye. He was born on 6 Oct 1884 in Shoreditch, London.  Percy enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery as Gunner 303487 on 29th January 1903 age 18 years and joined the regiment at Woolwich the next day.

He was described as being 18 years and 6 months old, of 5 feet 6¼ inches in height, weighing 134lbs, with a chest size of 33½ inches reaching 26 inches when expanded. He had a fresh complexion, grey eyes and fair hair. He had dots on his left forearm and a mole on his right buttock. He was fit for duty.

He passed his instruction to be promoted to Corporal on 8 Aug 1904 and was appointed to the rank of Bombardier on 15 Sep 1904 but reverted to Gunner after misconduct on 18 January 1905. He was put into the reserves 29 January 1906, a year after gaining his 1st good conduct badge.

Percy married Pollie Piggott on 5 Jan 1908 at Haggeston, Shoreditch, London, England whilst he was in the reserves. They had at least five children before he was recalled to the army in 1914:

At the start of World War One he was mobilised on 5 August 1914 and on 25 Sep 1914 he was promoted to Bombardier and Corporal on the same day.

His service records that he was accused of deserting at Havre, France on 7 Nov 1914. He was assigned to the reserves on 10 Aug 1914. He was tried, convicted and sentenced to be reduced to the ranks on 12 July 1916. This reduced his long service by 1 year and 248 days. He must have objected to being in the reserves whilst the war was raging in France. Why would he desert then re-enlist and use his real name otherwise?

On 1 Nov 1915 he was promoted to Corporal and Acting Sergeant on the same day. On 7 Aug 1916 he was posted to the British Expeditionary Force with the 36th Battery. On joining the 8th Division Ammunition Column he relinquished his appointment and reverted to the rank of Corporal.

On 29th Jul 1917 he was appointed Acting Sergeant and promoted to Sergeant on the same say.

He was discharged as unfit for service on 16 Aug 1918 with 15 years and 200 days service contributing towards his pension. He was entitled to Silver War Badge number 439,668 as he was discharged with sickness under Kings Regulations.

He was entitled to the 1914 ‘Mons’ Star due to his first engagement on 6 Nov 1914 and the British War and Victory medals.

Percy died in 1934.

Military History Sheet

Country

From

To

Years

Days

Home

29 Jan 1903

4 Nov 1914 6 Aug 1916

13

190

France

5 Nov 1914 7 Aug 1916

4 Apr 1918

1

241

Home

5 Apr 1918

16 Aug 1918

 

134

 

 

 

15

200

Certificates of education:

3rd Class 16 October 1903
2nd Class 26 March 1904

Passed classes of instruction

For promotion to Corporal 8 Aug 1904
Campaigns: British Expeditionary Force France 1914 1916, 1917, 1918

Wounded: Gunshot Wound Head Confused. Sev: 25 March 1918 (B103 shows accidental injured on duty)

Medals: European War 1916, 1917, 1918

Name and address of next of kin:

Mother Esther Thom 5 Brunswick Square, Shoreditch, E. 62 Broke Rd, Dalston. Older Brother George, Holly St. Younger Brother: Frank & Frederick. Wife with husband 97a Havershall Road, Balham

Particulars as to Marriage

Spouse: Pollie Piggott (Spinster)
Place of marriage: Haggeston, London 5 Jan 1908
Minister: G H Wooley
Witnesses: John Piggott, Louie Halsey
Date of being placed on Married Roll: Whilst in A Reserves
Children:

Statement of Services of No. 30347 Name: Percy Thom

Service towards limited engagement reckons from 29 Jan 1903

Joined at Woolwich on 30 Jan 1903

Royal Field Artillery

1 Depot

Attested

Gunner

29 Jan 1903

 

61

Posted

Gunner

19 May 1903

 

 

Appointed

Acting Bombardier

15 September 1904

 

 

Granted

Class 1

15 September 1904

 

 

 

Service Pay @ 6d

15 September 1904

 

 

Reverted (misconduct)

Gunner, deprived of service pay @ 6d on reversion

18 January 1905

 

 

Granted

1st Good Conduct Badge

29 January 1905

Army Reserve

Section B

Transferred

Gunner

29 January 1906

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mobilized at Hilsea

 

5 Aug 1914

 

 

Posted

 

7 Aug 1914

 

129

Posted

Gunner

7 Aug 1914

Surplus

 

Posted

Gunner

10 Aug 1914

Details

36

Posted

Gunner

11 Aug 1914

 

 

Promoted

Bombardier

 

 

 

Promoted

Corporal

25 Sept 1914

 

 

Deserted

At Havre

7 Nov  1914

RFA

6 Depot

Posted

Gunner

 

 

 

 

Deserted at Havre. Found to have fraudulently enlisted as above whilst belonging to 36 Battery Royal Field Artillery wherein he deserted as No. 30347, Percy Thom. Deserted therefrom

7 Nov 1914

DC 116

 

 

Tried convicted & sentenced to be reduced to the ranks. All former service forfeited on conviction of.

Services towards Limited Engagement reckons from 12 July 1916. Service not allowed to reckon 1 year 248 days.

12 July 1916

RFA

6 Depot

Posted

Gunner

27 Nov 1914

23rd Division Artillery

 

Posted

Gunner

6 Dec 1914

B/102

Brigade

Appointed

Acting Corporal

3 July 1915

 

 

Reverted

Bombardier

20 July 1915

3rd Reserve

Brigade

Posted

Bombardier

14 Aug 1915

 

 

Appointed

Acting Corporal

29 Sep 1915

 

 

Promoted

Corporal

1 Nov 1915

 

 

Appointed

Acting Sergeant

1 Nov 1915

4th Reserve Brigade

 

Posted

Acting Sergeant

1 Aug 1916

British Expeditionary Force

 

Posted

Acting Sergeant

7 Aug 1916

36 Battery

 

Posted

Acting Sergeant

12 Aug 1916

8 Division Ammunition Column

 

Relinquishes Appointment & Posted

Corporal

4 Dec 1916

 

 

 

Continued in the Service under the Military Service Act 1918. (less 2) from 29 Sep 1916

Date of Date of quashing

 

 

 

Bounty allowed under Army Order 209 of 1916 £20-0-0, credited for present issue £6-13-4, Balance to be issued subsequently £13-6-8

 

RFA 8th DAC

 

Appointed

Acting Sergeant

29 Jul 1917

RFA 8th DAC

 

Promoted

Sergeant

29 Jul 1917

Clearing Office

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discharged Physically Unfit Para, 392 (XVI) Kings Regulations

Sergeant

16 Aug 1918

Total service towards engagement to 16 Aug 1918 (dated of discharge) is 15 years 200 days. Service towards pension 15 years 200 days.

Short Service Attestation 29th January 1903 at London

Attestation of No. 30347 RFA Name: Percy Thom, Corps: Royal Field Artillery

Name: Percy Thom, born Shoreditch, London, Middlesex. British Subject aged 18 years and 3 months.

Regiment: Royal Regiment of Artillery & Royal Horse

Description of Percy Thom on Enlistment

  • Age: 18 years 6 months
  • Height: 5 feet 6 ¼ inches
  • Weight 134 lbs
  • Chest: 33 ½ inches reaching 36 maximum expansion
  • Complexion: fresh
  • Eyes: Grey
  • Hair: Fair
  • Church of England
  • Distinctive marks: Dots left forearm mole right buttock

Certificate of Medical Examination

I have examined the above-named recruit and find that he does not present any of the causes of rejection specified in the Regulations for Army Medical Services.

He can see the required distance with either eye: his heart and lungs are healthy: he has the free use of his joints and limbs, and he declares that he is not subject of fits of any description.

I consider his fit for the Army.

Date 29th Jan 1903

Place London

L A Irvine Lt. Col. Medical Officer

Certificate of Primary Medical Examination

I hereby certify that the above-named recruit was inspected by me, and I consider him fit for service in the ROYAL REGIMENT OF ARTILERY (ROYAL HORSE & ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY) and that due care has been exercised in his enlistment.

Date 29th Jan 1903

Place London.

H F Dawson Capt, Recruiting Staff Officer

Roll of Individuals entitled to the “War Badge”

Regimental No.

Rank

Name

Unit

Badge No

Date of Enlistment

Date of Discharge

Cause of Discharge

Served Overseas

30,347

Sergeant

Percy Thom

8 DAC

439,668

29 Jan 1903

16 Aug 1918

Sickness Age: 33 Para. 392(xvi) Kings Regulations Army Order ii 2 (a)(i)

Yes

 No. RA/2232 12 Aug 1918,

Woolwich, 8 August 1918

Medals

ROLL OF INDIVIDUALS entitled to the Victory Medal and/or British War Medal

Regimental Number

Rank

Name

Units and Corps

Remarks

30347

Sergeant

THOM Percy

RFA 30347 Sgt.

Discharged Physically Unfit 16 Aug 1918

Woolwich, 17 July 1920

Medal Index Card

Campaign: 1914 Star(A) Where decoration was earned
(B) Present situation
NameCorpsRankReg. No.Roll on which included (if any)
(A) THOM33rd Brigade
RFA
Corporal30347MedalRollPage
VictoryRFA/334B42096
(B) Percy – ditto –Sergeant – ditto –British – do – – do –
14 StarRFA/3655
Action taken
Silver War Badge List RA/2232
Qualifying Date6 Nov 1914
Correspondence
WW1 Medal Card of Sergeant Percy THOM