Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the following research.
Thomas Cecil Rose was born in the 2nd quarter of 1894 in Dorking or Westcott, Surrey to general labourer Alfred William Rose and Emily Ada Rose nee Cheeseman/Cheesman.
Thomas Cecil’s father Alfred William Rose was born about 1860 in Dorking Surrey to labourer and jobbing gardener Thomas Rose, born about 1821 in Dorking, Surrey, and Sarah Rose, born about 1834 in Dorking, Surrey. Alfred William Rose was baptised on the 11th of November 1860 at St Martin’s church in Dorking. At the time of his baptism the family lived at St Martin’s Place in Dorking.
At the time of the 1881 Census, Alfred William still lived with his parents and siblings at Hampstead Road in Dorking. He was working as a bricklayer’s labourer.
Thomas Cecil’s mother Emily Ada Cheeseman/Cheesman was born in the 2nd quarter of 1870 in Shere, Surrey to agricultural labourer and shepherd Thomas Cheeseman/Cheesman, born about 1833 in Shere, Surrey and Elizabeth Cheeseman/Cheesman born about 1833 in Shere, Surrey. Emily Ada was baptised on the 26th of June 1870 in Shere, Surrey.
By the time of the 1891 Census, Alfred William Rose and Emily Ada Cheeseman/Cheesman were married.
Thomas Cecil had 8 known siblings: Ada Amelia born about 1891 in Dorking Surrey, Alfred Charles born about 1892 in Dorking Surrey, Percy Victor born about 1896 in Dorking Surrey, Charles Cyril born about 1898 in Dorking Surrey, Ruby Adelaide born about 1900 in Dorking Surrey, Elizabeth Winifred born about 1902 in Dorking Surrey, Rita born about 1906 in Dorking Surrey and Christiana Veronica born about 1909 on Dorking Surrey.
At the time of the 1891 Census, Alfred William, Emily Ada and their daughter Ada Amelia were living at 6 Falkland Gardens in Dorking. Alfred William was working as a domestic groom.
At the time of the 1901 Census, the family lived at St John’s Road in Westcott. Alfred William was working as a wood sawyer in a timber yard and Emilia Ada was looking after their children.
At the time of the 1911 Census, the family had moved to 59 Orchard Road in Dorking, Surrey. Alfred William was working as a machine wood sawyer and Emilia Ada was at home looking after baby Christiana Veronica and five year old Rita. Of their children, Alfred Charles was working as a miller, Thomas Cecil as a wood sawyer’s assistant, Percy Victor as a draper’s parcel boy and Charles Cyril, Ruby Adelaide and Elizabeth Winifred were scholars. Emilia Ada stated that she had given birth to ten children of whom nine were still living. The accommodation had six rooms.
Thomas Cecil joined the 1st Battalion the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment in February 1912 in Guildford, Surrey. He became a private with a regimental number L/10352. At the time of his enlistment he resided in Dorking, Surrey. Before joining the Army he was employed for three and a half years at Mr Brooker’s timber yard.
Thomas Cecil was later transferred into 2nd Battalion the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment and became a Lance Corporal.
Thomas Cecil disembarked on the 12th of August 1914 in France and was wounded in October 1914. After completing convalescence he went back to the Front. He was again wounded on the 24th of September 1915 at Loos.
Thomas Cecil Rose was killed during the Great Advance, on the first day on the Somme, on the 1st of July 1916 in France.
2nd Lieut. Corporal Humphrey Secretan in a letter to Thomas’ parents recalls: “Lce-Corpl. Rose was shot through the head by a machine gun bullet as we were crossing the German support trenches. The same gun knocked out a lot of our fellows. Such a nice fellow he was, and we shall all miss him very much. I am afraid I cannot say exactly where his grave is, but all of our fellows have been buried, and I think a service said over him. We went on nearly a mile beyond where he was shot, and stayed there for four days, and then came straight back eight miles, so you see it was rather difficult to get any particulars. The Germans were surrounding in large quantities, and we were only held up occasionally by a machine gun or so.”
Thomas Cecil is commemorated at the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing in France on the Pier and Face 5D and 6D.
At the time of Thomas’ death his parents resided at 59 Orchard Road in Dorking, Surrey.
Thomas’ father Alfred William received £13, 8d and 7s on the 3rd of November 1916 and £10, 10s on the 1st of October 1919 in Soldier’s Effects’.
Thomas Cecil Rose received the British War and Victory medals and the 1914 Star.
| Born | Westcott, Dorking | |
| Lived | Dorking | |
| Son of | Alfred William and Emily Ada Rose (nee Cheesman) | |
| Adress | 59 Orchard Road, Dorking | |
| Enlisted | Guildford | |
| Regiment | 2nd Battalion, The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment | |
| Number | L/10352 | |
| Date of Death | 1st July 1916 | |
| Place of Death | France | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in Action | |
| Age | 22 | |
| Memorial | Thiepval Memorial, France |
