Birth | 1891, Burma, Asia | |
Parents | Son of Arthur & Martha Aitcheson | |
Residence | Stationed in Africa (1911 Census) | |
Occupation | Soldier (1911 Census) | |
Enlisted | ||
Regiment | 2nd Battalion, Hampshire Regiment (at time of death) | |
Regimental No: | 17989 | |
Rank | 2nd Lieutenant | |
Service Record | 1st Field Squadron, Royal Engineers. Mentioned in Despatches, Acting 2nd Corporal, 22/6/1915 (London Gazette edition 29200) | |
Death | 19th October 1916, killed in action - aged 25 | |
Theatre of War | France & Flanders | |
Commemoration | Thiepval Memorial, Picardie | |
Medals | Star, Victory Medal, British War Medal | |
Thomas Charles Aitcheson was born in Burma, Asia, in 1891. The brother of Nelson, he was the oldest son of Arthur and Martha Aitcheson and the family lived in Old Post Office Cottage, Lower Froyle. Thomas’s father, Arthur, had served with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers in many parts of the world and most of his large family were born abroad. Already following in his father’s footsteps, Thomas was a serving soldier by the time of the 1911 Census and was stationed in Africa, serving with the 2nd Field Troop, Royal Engineers, as a 20 year old Sapper and he is described as a painter. On 22nd June 1915 he was Mentioned in Despatches, while serving as an Acting 2nd Corporal with the 1st Field Squadron Royal Engineers in Gallipoli. However, at the time of his death, he was 17989 2nd Lieutenant Thomas Aitcheson, serving with the 2nd Battalion Hampshire Regiment. Thomas was killed in action on 19th October 1916 in the Battle of the Somme, aged 25 years. Just eight days earlier the War Office announced that he had been awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field. Perhaps that was of some small comfort to his parents, who had already lost one son the previous year. The Alton Gazette was the bearer of both these pieces of news. In the ‘Froyle’ section of the village reports on 14th October 1916 it read: |
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But then, just three weeks later, in the 4th November edition was the very sad news: |
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The war diaries of 2nd Battalion Hampshire Regiment tell us that, on the day he was killed, the battalion was due to be relieved by the South Wales Borderers, but due to heavy rain, that relief had difficulty in getting to the front. The countless shell-holes had become slimy pools; the churned up soil of the Somme ridges resulted in knee-deep mud, which made movement more and more difficult. | ||
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As well as the Military Medal, 2nd Lieutenant Thomas Aitcheson was awarded the 1914 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in Picardie, France, Pier and Face 7C and 7B. |