Thomas's Story.
EARLY LIFE
Thomas Latham was born on 22 February and baptised on 18 March 1877 at St John's Church, Blackburn, the son of Mary Ellen (née Bottomley) and Thomas Latham, a draper of 42 Whalley Range, Blackburn. In 1881 four-year-old Thomas was living at 43 Whalley Range with his parents and brothers Albert (9) and Joseph Charles (6). By 1891 Thomas' father had died and Thomas, then working as an architects' clerk, was living at the same address with his widowed mother and siblings John (16) and Alice Ann (9).
In 1901 and 1911, Thomas was boarding with two spinster sisters at 47 Prestbury Road, Macclesfield, and employed by the Prudential Assurance Company as a cashier.
WW1 SERVICE
Thomas Latham attested in Macclesfield on 11 December 1915; he was mobilised for training on 27 March 1916 and was drafted to France on 31 August 1916, sailing from Southampton to Le Havre.
Thomas was wounded in the left leg on 18 April 1917 and treated at the 13th General Hospital, Boulogne. On 8 May the hospital sent a telegram to his sister to inform her that he was dangerously ill and she could visit if she wished; it's not know whether she did travel to see him. Thomas' left leg was amputated in June 1917 and he was transferred to the nearby 14th Stationary Hospital, Wimereux.
On 25 July 1917 Thomas was repatriated to the UK on Hospital Ship "St David" and taken to Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport, where he died on 4 August (the Commonwealth War Graves Commission has his date of death as 3 August 1917). The death of Thomas Latham was reported in the Macclesfield Times on 10 August 1917:
GUNNER LATHAM'S DEATH - FORMER MACCLESFIELD ASSURANCE CLERK
The funeral of Gunner Thomas Latham, Royal Garrison Artillery, who died at Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport, on Friday, from wounds received in action in France, took place at Blackburn Cemetery on Tuesday. Mr A Pearson, Superintendent of the Macclesfield district, and Mr J Barratt, Superintendent of Blackburn, were present representing the Prudential Assurance Co., and a wreath was sent by the Macclesfield Staff. Four soldiers acted as bearers and the "Last Post" was sounded at the conclusion of the committal service.
Gunner Latham was forty years of age and formerly resided at 47, Prestbury Road, Macclesfield. He had been in the employ of the Prudential Assurance Co. for twenty-five years, having been engaged as cashier at the Macclesfield offices for seventeen years. His sister resides at Blackburn. Gunner Latham joined the colours in December 1915 and was drafted out to France last October. He was wounded on April 18th, and an injury to the leg necessitated the amputation of the limb. He was transferred to Stepping Hill Hospital, where he passed away. The deceased soldier, who was single, was a member of the Macclesfield Conservative Club and the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes. He was well-known in Macclesfield, where the news of his death was received with much regret.
His death was also reported in the Macclesfield Advertiser on 17 August 1917:
GUNNER LATHAM - Mr Thomas Latham (40), cashier, of the Prudential Assurance Co., Macclesfield, joined the RGA in December 1915 and was sent to France last October. April 18th he was wounded in the leg, and taken to Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport, where he died on August 4th. He was interred with military honours at Blackburn Cemetery on the 7th inst. Mr A Pearson, superintendent of the Macclesfield District, and Mr J Barratt, superintendent of the Blackburn district, attended the funeral. Deceased had been in the employ of the Prudential Company for 25 years, and was cashier at the Macclesfield offices for seven [sic] years.
COMMEMORATION
Gunner Thomas Latham is buried in Grave Ref. B. C.E. 1331. of Blackburn Cemetery in Lancashire. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission holds casualty details for Gunner Thomas Latham, and he is listed on the Imperial War Museum’s Lives of the First World War website.
In Macclesfield, Gunner Thomas Latham is commemorated on the Park Green, Town Hall and St Michael’s Church war memorials.
Elsewhere, he is named on the First World War roll of honour plaque by the war memorial in Blackburn Cemetery. He is also named on page 18 of the Prudential Assurance Roll of Honour book, and on the Prudential Assurance war memorial, now located in the north-east corner of the courtyard at Waterhouse Square, within the former Prudential offices, 138-142 Holborn, London EC1N 2ST.
NOTES
SOURCES
GRO (England & Wales) Index: Births
Blackburn St John Baptism Register
Census (England & Wales): 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911
WWI Army Service Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Macclesfield Times: 10 August 1917
Macclesfield Advertiser: 17 August 1917
Research by Rosie Rowley, Macclesfield