Private William Arthur Thoms
5192 1st East Lancashire Regiment
Killed in Action 14th November 1914, aged 21
Born in Padiham
Lived at 12 Pine Street Burnley
Commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium
Burnley Express 16/12/14

Son of Mrs Hudson (Double loss) brother Pte Richard Thoms 408 2 Lan Fus missing 15/6/15 and brother Bugler Granville Hudson 3612 Loyals wounded 1916.
Enlisted 1911 and 22/8/14 landed at Havre and was in the retreat from Mons.He was killed by a German shell (The undertaker it killed and buried you), while having his breakfast in the trenches.His Burnley friend Pte Shepard of Croft St was wounded by the next shell.
Lived in Burnley from 1900.Attended Fullege School


KILLED AT BREAKFAST (COMRADE WRITES TO SOLDIER’S MOTHER)
(Burnley Express and Advertiser 16th December 1914)

Although no official news has been received from the War Office, it is now safe to say from information that has come to hand, that Pte W.A. Thoms, of 12 Pine-street, Burnley, has been killed in Belgium. Several comrades who saw Pte. Thoms killed have mentioned the fact in letters home and Mrs. Hudson, his mother received the following letter from Pte. Lord (7668) “D” company 1st East Lancashire Regiment:

“Ypres Belgium 15/11/1914” “I don’t know how to express the news I am sending you. I am very sorry to inform you that your Arthur has had a serious accident, I don’t know how to tell you the truth, but your poor Arthur was killed yesterday morning as he was having his breakfast. He did not suffer any pain and as we picked him up he had a smile on his face, poor lad. Those of us who are alive are very lucky. I hope you will forgive me for writing but I feel very sorry for you in your trouble”
Pte. Thoms (5192) of the 1st East Lancashire Regiment was 21 years of age. He joined the army about 2 and a half years ago and was previously a weaver at the mill of Messrs. Witham & Co. A native of Padiham he had lived in Burnley ever since he was about seven years of age and was fond of all kinds of sport. In a letter to his mother from the front Pte Thoms wished that his invalid brother, for whom he had a great affection could burn the Kaiser in the bonfire on the 5th, November. The last postcard received from him stated that he was doing all right and mentioned that the “coal boxes” were awful.
One of the soldiers who has reported Thoms death is Pte Shepherd, who lives in Croft-street. In a recent interview with an “Express” representative he stated, “On November 14th we were being heavily shelled, and were given orders to retire to the communication trench. The Germans were dropping on us what we called silent bombs. We never heard or saw them coming; all we know was that they burst. I heard someone call out ‘ That’s a Burnley lad gone ‘ and looking round I saw Thoms lying on his back in the trench and bleeding slightly from the face. He had a biscuit in his hand as if he had been eating when hit. Two minutes later another bomb burst and hit
three of us”