Edward Thomas (British Army soldier) explained

Ernest Edward Thomas
Birth Date:16 December 1884
Birth Place:London, England
Allegiance:United Kingdom
Branch:British Army
Serviceyears:1898–1923
Rank:Sergeant
Unit:4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards
Battles:First World War
Awards:Military Medal
Mentioned in Despatches

Ernest Edward Thomas, MM (16 December 1884 – February 1939) was a cavalryman in the British Army and drummer. While serving with the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards he fired the first British shot of the First World War in Europe, at on 22 August 1914, in an engagement outside Mons.[1]

Early life

Although it has been reported that Thomas was born in Nenagh, County Tipperary,[2] [3] it has now been established that he was born in London of Irish ancestry.[4] Thomas joined the British Army as a drummer in the Royal Horse Artillery, but transferred to the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards before the outbreak of hostilities.

First World War

It was while serving as a corporal in the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards that Thomas is reported to have fired the first British shot of the First World War in Europe.[5] He was promoted to sergeant on 5 November 1915 and transferred to the Machine Gun Corps in 1916. Thomas was also mentioned in despatches for bravery. While positioned in a slit trench he advanced on his opposite number after British shelling of the enemy lines, to find all the German soldiers killed. Noting the quality of the German boots, he removed them from several soldiers, tied them together and crawled back to his own lines, where he distributed them amongst his friends.[6] Thomas was awarded the Military Medal during his service.[7]

Later life and death

Thomas returned to the Royal Irish Dragoons at the end of hostilities and was discharged in 1923. He then became the Commissionnaire at the Duke of Yorks Cinema. While at work in February 1939, Thomas became ill and subsequently died of pneumonia. He was buried with full military honours.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The First Shot: 22 August 1914—Opening salvos. World Wars in depth—World War One. BBC. 5 November 2009. 20 January 2010.
  2. News: McGreevy. Ronan. First World War dead remembered at Ypres ceremony. 15 February 2015. 18 October 2014.
  3. Web site: Hurley. Tom. Tipp FM in search of Ernest Edward Thomas. Radio Today. 26 October 2014 . 15 February 2015.
  4. Web site: Grant. Andy. Ernest Edward Thomas: famous WWI soldier. My Brighton and Hove. 15 February 2015.
  5. Book: Sheehan. William. The Western Front: The Irishmen Who Fought in World War One. 2011. Gill & Macmillan Ltd. Dublin. 9780717151950. 4.
  6. Web site: Deignan. Tom. The Irish and World War I. Irish America. 19 May 2014 . 15 February 2015.
  7. Book: Cooper. Stephen. The Final Whistle: The Great War in Fifteen Players. 2013. The History Press. UK. 9780752481241.