Private John Smith Thomason MM
29309 8th Royal Lancaster Regiment "A" Coy
Born in Leigh, 26th April 1899
Lived at 350 Cog Lane

London Gazette 24th January 1919 (for an action 13th September 1918)

Severe wounds to legs and thigh 27 September 1918. At the outbreak of war, he was living at 350, Cog Lane, Burnley, Lancashire. Called up for service on the 2 March 1917.

On the 1911 census

Called up for military service on the 2 March 1917, after training he joined the 6th (Reserve) Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers on the 17 November 1917, he was transferred to the 2/1st Lancashire Hussars on the 28 March 1918. He was at the time at Scarborough, Yorkshire.

On the 17 July 1918 he went out to France and was posted to the 8th Battalion, King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. He was awarded the Military Medal "in the field" on the 13 September 1918.

He suffered a gun shot wound in the thigh on the 27 September 1918. Following hospital treatment in Scotland he returned to Burnley on leave on the 18 November 1918 and was discharged, "unfit for further military service", on the 28 December 1918.

On the 1921 census he was living with his parents John Henry and Alice Thomason at 350, Coal Cough Lane, a shop assistant at the family shop at 29, Coal Clough Lane, Burnley.

On the 25 August 1923 he married Gladys Metcalfe (23) of 64, Raglan Road, Burnley at Manchester Road Methodist Chapel, Burnley.

On the 1939 register he was living at 21, Netherby Street, Burnley, a grocery store shop assistant with his wife Gladys, son Norman and daughter Mary.

John Smith Thomason died at 43, Birch Hall Lane, Earby, Lancashire on the 4 December 1984.

(Courtesy of Dave Ingham)