Thomas's Story.
St. Mary's R.o.H. Plaque records three lads named Harrison;
A. (Arthur) Harrison.
T. H. (Thomas Henry) Harrison. Cheshirebmd records the birth of a Thomas Henry Harrison in 1895.
T. (Thomas) Harrison.
Lance. Corp. T. Harrison, Northwich Guardian 21st Sept 1917 P5/C2;
Mr. & Mrs Harrison of Woodward St., Weaverham received an Official Intimation on Wednesday that there son Lance. Corp. Thomas Harrison had Fallen in action on Sept. 3rd.
The name T. Harrison is not on St. Mary’s “Fallen” Memorial. The C.W.G.C. do not have a T. or Thomas Harrison’s death on the 3rd Sept., the nearest is a James Harrison.
THEN
Guardian Article 28th Sept. 1917 P5/C8 “DEAD” SOLDIER WRITES HOME. WEAVERHAM MAN WHO WAS REPORTED KILLED ;
Mr. and Mrs Harrison of Woodward St., Weaverham, were officially notified on Wednesday last week that their son Lance Corporal Thomas Harrison of the Cheshire Regiment had fallen in action on September 3rd. About 3 days afterwards a letter arrived from their son and their delight can be readily imagined when they discovered that it was written on a later date, than that, on which he was reported to have been killed. Mr. Harrison has forwarded this letter to the War Office, and is now awaiting further information as to how his son’s name was included in the official casualty list for Sept. 3rd. On Thursday the parents of Lance Corporal Harrison received a letter from the military authorities at Shrewsbury informing them that the information previously sent to them to the effect that their son was killed on September 3rd was not correct and expressing regret at the mistake which had been made.
Guardian Article 17th May 1918, P3/C4 PRIVATE THOMAS HARRISON
In a letter to his mother, Mrs Harrison, of 2 Woodward Street, Weaverham, Private Thomas Harrison, of the Machine Gun Corps, states “I was wounded by either a bullet or a piece of shrapnel. It went through the calf of my left leg, and either cut a vein or an artery, which caused an haemorrhage.” The official news has since been received by his parents, which states that he was wounded on April 27th. Private Harrison is a son of Mr. & Mrs Thomas Harrison. He is 21 years of age, and enlisted in 1914 at the age of 18. (Birth c1896.) He previously worked for Mr. Ellison, coal merchant. It is a sad fact that within the last four years Mr. & Mrs Harrison have lost two sons. One was killed falling off a hay loft, whilst the other was drowned whilst at work at the Weaver Refining Company’s works.
The first article states the Cheshire Reg’t, the second article records Machine Gun Corps. N.A.M.C. have a medal card for a Thomas Harrison with the Cheshire Reg’t No 13110, Pte., he also had time with Machine Gun Corps No 141317, Pte. Awarded the 15 Star, British and Victory medals. Theatre of War (1) which would be France, Date of Entry 26/9/15. The medal card also records he would have S.W.B.
Research Bob Heaton
Research Bob Heaton