Thank you to Patricia Brazier for the following research.
Thomas was baptised at St Michaels church in Mickleham on 13th June 1885, his Father, Alfred Thomas, is a Carman his mother is Rhoda (nee Skinner) they are living in Mickleham. Alfred and Rhoda married in St Paul’s church in Dorking on 27th September 1879
The family are still living in the Dorking area in 1887, when Thomas’s sister Alice was born. They then moved to Streatham and in the 1891 census they are living in Balham Grove. Thomas is at school, he has two sisters Rhoda and Alice and a brother Alfred William.
In the 1901 census the family are still living in Balham Grove, Thomas is 15; he has left school and is now a Grocers Porter.
Between 1901 and 1911 Thomas joined the Royal Garrison Artillery. In the 1911 census he is in Hong Kong with 83 company of the Royal Garrison Artillery.
Thomas’s medal card shows that he arrived in France in March 1915. He must have had home leave in 1915 as he married Maude Mary Broadbridge at Tooting Parish Church on 5th October 1915. His brother Alfred William and his wife Florence were witnesses.
Thomas died on 15th March 1917. He is buried at Adanac Military Cemetery in Miraumont. Grave reference 1V K17 His war Gratuity was sent to his wife Maude Mary, in 1919. She was living at 24 Waterloo Road, Leyton.
Maude Mary did not remarry; she died aged 81 on 28th December 1960 and left her estate to her nephew Edgar Sydney Broadbridge
| Born | Mickleham, Surrey | |
| Son of | Alfred Thomas and Rhoda (nee Skinner) Cheesman | |
| Husband of | Maude Mary Broadbridge | |
| Regiment | 122nd Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery | |
| Number | 25093 | |
| Date of Death | 15th March 1917 | |
| Place of Death | France | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in Action | |
| Age | 32 | |
| Memorial | Adanac Military Cemetery, Miraumont, France |
