Thomas Sidney Wathes

Key Information

Name: Thomas Sidney Wathes
DoB: November 2 1887
Regt: Capt., Royal Warwickshire Regt.
DoD: Killed in action at Fromellis, (sic) July 19 1916. Commemorated at Ploegsteert Memorial but now believed to be one of those buried in the new cemetery at Fromelles
Academic Career: CGS 1904- 1906. B. Wadham Coll., Oxford, 1906; B.A. (4th Class Mod. Hist.), 1909.   son of late C. W. Wathes, care of Mrs. Wathes, Mancetter, West Hill, Kings Norton.

Biographical Information

  • Thomas was the fourth child of Charles Weetman Wathes, a dairyman from Leicestershire, and Caroline, from Warwick. He had older brothers Arthur and Charles, an older sister Margaret and younger brother John. All the children were born in Birmingham. Thomas’ father died in 1904 and in 1911 Thomas and brothers Charles and John were still at home in King’s Norton, Worcestershire, with Charles an engineer and John Watson an engineer’s apprentice. Thomas himself was working as a dairyman’s assistant.

    Thomas had married Doris (néeCollins) on 4 June 1913, and a son, Richard Sidney was born 10 August 1915. At the time of Thomas’ death the home address was Highfield Road, Moseley, Birmingham. In 1919 she was at Mayfield Road. He left £140 5s in his estate. Soon after Thomas’s death Doris’s brother wrote to the War Office on her behalf asking for his pay.