HART, Thomas Henry


No.5384, Trooper, Thomas Henry HART
Aged 27


11th (Prince Albert's Own) Hussars
Died of his Wounds on Thursday, 15th October 1914

An Old Contemptible


Thomas Henry Hart was born in 1887 in Fornham All Saints (Thingoe Q3-1887 4A:677), baptised in All Saints, Fornham All Saints on 7th April 1889, son of Samuel Elijah and Elizabeth HART (née GOOCH). The year of birth is different (1889)on the baptismal register to his birth registration (1887).

1891 census...Aged 3, he was at Frost's Court, Fornham All Saints with his mother Elizabeth HART [27] born Bury St Edmunds. His father, previously a wheelwright, was now a Sapper in the Royal Engineers in Aldershot.
His brother William Elijah HART was with his grandparents William and Alice GOOCH at Batchelors Hall, Fordham All Saints.

1901 census...Aged 13, a farm labourer, he was at 7 Hengrave Road, Fornham All Saints with his mother. If his father was still in the Army he may well have been in South Africa

He married Bridget Mary QUINN (b.15-1-1887) in Dublin South, Ireland (Q4-1907 2:618). By his medal index card, they lived at 4 West End Cottages, Fornham All Saints.

1911 census...Aged 25, (recorded as single) he was in the 11th Hussars at Lydd in Kent. Bridget was visiting in Fornham All Saints with his grandmother Alice GOOCH; mother Elizabeth HART, his brother William (single, labourer) and Archibald HART {2] born Shorncliffe, seemingly her son, and Leslie HART [10] born Shorncliffe, recorded as a grandson of Alice but his parentage is not known.

The pension card now identifies the children in the 1911 census. His widow Mary was at 4 West End Cottages, Fornham All Saints with their 5 children. They were Archibald Thomas (4-12-1908); Leslie William (10-5-1910); Samuel Ernest Elijah (5-9-1911); Gwendoline Eileen (13-11-1912) and Thomas Henry (5-12-1914)

His elder brother William died in Belgium in December 1917. see here




From his number he would have enlisted sometime in 1904. He enlisted in Bury St Edmunds.
Dying of his wounds it is not possible to be exact as to where and when he was wounded, but the 11th Hussars were engaged in the battle at La Bassée at that time, near Meteren.


Thomas Hart is buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery, grave C:29

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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