Other Information:Thomas enlisted on 11th December 1915, he was 27 years and 11 months old, A signal fitter's labourer by trade, and living at 2 Goods Station, Crook, Durham at the time. He was sent to Army Reserve but mobilized two days later. On 3rd August 1916, Thomas embarked at Southampton on H.M.H.S. Dunluce Castle, entering the war in Salonika on 18th August 1916 he was posted to serve with No 41 General Hospital. He was admitted into the hospital on 7th July 1917, suffering with enteritis, he returned to duty on the 20th. On 28th September 1918, he was admitted into the hospital again suffering from 2nd degree, external burns as a result of accident in the sterilization room at No 41 General Hospital involving himself and Sjt William Charles Sydney Horspool. He later wrote a witness statement, "At 1.15p.m. on 28th of September, 1918 I was in the sterilising room of the Operating Theatre. A primus stove was filled with oil by Sergeant Horspool (W.C.S.) and screwed down. I then filled the warming tray with methylated spirits and lit this. I turned to close down the steriliser when there was an explosion from behind me and a flash of light. Directly afterwards the tin of paraffin exploded. I rushed out of the Theatre but returned directly afterwards to find Sergeant Horspool. I could not see him so ran outside again and found him outside with people covering him with blankets." It is difficult to know if Thomas recovered from his wounds, there are three more dates listed on his Active Service - Casualty Form in his service record but it is too faint to read whether or not he stayed in hospital or returned to duty and became ill again. Thomas died of dysentery in No 41 General Hospital. He was the son of John W and Jane Wilson of 2 Goods Station, Crook, Co. Durham.
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