Thomas's Story.
Weaverham St. Mary's R.o.H. plaque records five lads named Lightfoot.
A. (Ambrose) Lightfoot; (Cheshirebmd records an Ambrose born in W/ham District, 1896.)
A. (Arthur) Lightfoot; (Cheshirebmd records an Arthur born in W/ham District, 1895.)
H. (Harry) Lightfoot; (Cheshirebmd records an Harry born in W/ham District, 1893.)
?W (William?) Lightfoot; (Cheshirebmd records 4 lads named William born in W/ham District, 1879, 1880, 1884 & 1899.
T. (Thomas) Lightfoot; (Cheshirebmd records 2 lads named Tomas born in W/ham District, 1883 & 1897.)
Thomas Lightfoot is named on the main “Fallen” Memorial and named on the Methodist Chapel Memorial, now located in the Parish Rooms.
The 1911 census records a three or four families lived in Acton Bridge, including Thomas Lightfoot’s family living near the Post Office;
Alfred Head, age 50, Chemical Labourer, born Acton.
Hannah Wife, age 42, born Acton.
Harry Son, age 17, Farm Labourer, Acton.
Arthur Son, age 16, Farm Labourer, Acton.
Ambrose Son, age 15, Farm Labourer, Acton.
Thomas Son, age 13, Acton.
William Son, age 11, Acton; Harriet Daughter, age 9, Acton; Florence Daughter, age 7, Acton; Alfred Son, age 4, Acton; Hilda Daughter, age 6, Acton.
Guardian Friday 21st Sept. 1917, P5/C2 PRIVATE THOMAS LIGHTFOOT
“Private Thomas Lightfoot son of Mr. Alfred Lightfoot who lives near the Post Office at Acton, Northwich is reported as missing.”
C.W.G.C. remember Thomas on Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium, he was with “A” Coy 7th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Pte. Service No 41887, died on the 16th August, 1917 aged 19. Son of Mr. & Mrs. Alfred Lightfoot of Acton Bridge, Northwich, Cheshire.
Thomas enlisted at Chester, formerly with a Cheshire Regiment, service No 61582. He transferred to the Royal Inniskilling Regiment in early 1917. (The Inniskilling Regimental Museum suggested he would likely have transferred from the 13th Bn. Cheshire Regt.) Head of research at the museum has checked the war diaries of the 7th Bn. on the day that Thomas is recorded as being killed, 16th August. 1917 and went onto say that the diaries record (“There were several places named on that day in the diary; Brandboek Area Toronto Camp, Square Farm E by N of Ypres, Ranebeek (Steenbeek), Gallipolli Farm, Delva Farm, Beck House, Borry Farm and Low Farm, an unsuccessful day of attacks on the German front line. The 7th Bn. suffered 10 men killed, 46 men wounded, 32 men missing, 2 men wounded and missing and 1 man who died of his wounds.”) It is recorded Thomas was killed in action. (On that day, 16th August 1917, the Commonwealth War Graves record 3,726 UK Army “Fallen”.)
Thomas is one of those lads whose body was lost in the trauma of the war. This may mean it will have been sometime from him being registered as missing, as per the Guardian article 21st Sept. 1917, to Thomas, eventually being declared killed on the 16th Aug. 1917, nearly 5 weeks before.
The thought at the moment is that Ambrose, Arthur and Harry also enlisted with a question over William. The Baptist Roll of Honour records Ambrose, (Royal Defence Corps.), Arthur, (No service details.), Harry, (Royal Army Medical Corps.) and Thomas as above. No mention of William, brother.
N.A.M.C. have a medal card for a Thomas Lightfoot, R. Innis. Fus. Pte 41887, Theatre of War and Date of Entry not addressed. Private Lightfoot’s family will have been issued with his British War and Victory Medals.
Research Bob Heaton
Research Bob Heaton