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TZ-6961 JAMES THOMAS, AB., 'DRAKE' BATTALION, ROYAL NAVAL DIVISION, RNVR. :
British War Medal; Victory Medal 1914-19 (TZ.6961 AB. RNVR.) : (JAMES THOMAS - Born 16 August 1897, a mill hand residing at 137 Cuttlebank Road, Sheffield, on the date he enrolled in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, 16 August 1915 : Drafted from 2nd.Reserve Battalion to 'Drake' Battalion for MEF. on 16 February 1916 : Disembarked from 'Olympic' to base depot, Mudros on 8 April 1916 : Joined 'Drake' Battalion, Royal Naval Division from base depot, Mudros 2 May 1916 : Embarked from Mudros in 'Menominee', 1 June 1916 and disembarked Marseilles 7 June 1916 for service in France : At 21.00hrs on 3 February 1917 the 189th Brigade attacked the German trenches on the ridge commanding Grandcourt, 'Hood' and 'Hawke' Battalions led the assault and were immediately involved in very heavy fighting : Then in the early hours of 4 February, 'Drake' Battalion was also sent forward and after a further period of prolonged resistance the German positions were finally taken around dawn on that day : It had cost the Brigade casualties amounting to over twenty-four Officers and six hundred and forty-seven Other Ranks, killed or wounded : The recipient was reported missing at the Roll Call taken on 7 February 1917 and his death was recorded as that date : It was later reported that his body had been found and buried by 190th. Infantry Burial Party, but unfortunately no information was received as to the location of the grave : There is obviously a discrepancy regarding the recipient's date of death, because 'Drake' Battalion came out of the line on 6 February 1917, it is likely therefore that he was killed on 4 or 5 February and that the date he was reported missing was substituted for the date of his death : He was just 19 years of age at the time of his death, and his next-of-kin is recorded as an aunt, Mrs. Beatrice Thomas, 137 Cuttlebank Road, Sheffield : He is commemorated on Thiepval Memorial.) : Sold with verification; copy Service Record; copy CWGC. information and related research : GVF - £265