Peterborough & The Great War

Biography

Thomas John Moore was born on 5 September 1898, in Great Houghton, Northamptonshire to parents Thomas Charles, a gas stoker with Northampton Gas Company and Maria (nee Seaton).  In 1901, Thomas (2) was living at 14 Herbert Street, Northampton with Thomas Charles (36), Maria (32) and his two older sisters Edith Mable (14) and Lyddie (7).  By 1911, the family had moved along Herbert Street to number five.  Thomas (12) was at school and his two sisters were shirt machinists at Brook Manufacturing Company.

Thomas enlisted as a Gunner with the Northamptonshire Battery Royal Field Artillery at Peterborough on 25 October 1915.  He was aged 19 years and gave his occupation as a boot hand.  He was 5’6” tall and weighed 11st 6lbs.  He also served as a gunner with the Royal Engineers.  He was admitted to the Southern General Hospital, King’s Heath, Birmingham in  May 1918 for seven days, suffering from contusion of the right shoulder caused by being hit by gun being fired too soon.  He also complained of ear trouble and deafness, which was diagnosed as chronic inflammation of middle ear and permanent perforation, leaving him rather deaf.  This was attributed to his war service leaving him with a 50% disability.  He was still attending medical boards in 1922.  Thomas was discharged on 8 February 1919, and awarded the British War and Allied Victory medals.

In 1920, Thomas married Ada Louisa Lane in Northampton and they had four children, Thomas (1921), Walter (1925), Brian (1933) and Trevor (1944).  In 1939, the family were living at 71 Market Street, Northampton and Thomas was employed as an optician’s porter and Ada as a charwoman.

Thomas died at Brixworth, Northamptonshire on 4 August 1955, aged 56 years.  He was living at 8 Holcot Road, Moulton, Northamptonshire.

Do get in touch if you can tell more about Thomas and his family.