Thomas Wellings

THOMAS WELLINGS

290498, Corporal, Thomas Wellings, 16th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment, former number 2295.

Born 1897 at Macclesfield, son of Thomas and Emily (nee, Berry) Wellings of 30, Chestergate, Macclesfield. In 1911, Thomas was ages 14 “living above the shop” and assisting in the family pork butcher business.

Thomas attested at Macclesfield, and on completion of his training, his medal index card indicated that he was drafted to the Balkans conflict, August 1915. This was most probably with the 19th Battalion, as this was the day that they arrived at the Dardinelles, landing at Sulva Bay Gallipoli. The 16th Battalion who were formed late in 1915 didn’t go inro action until January 30 1916, when they were drafted to France. Tghe 15th and 16th Battalions were known as the Birkenhead Bantams”. Surviving the Gallipoli experience, he was then transferred to the Flanders Offensive; here he was engaged in the attack on the German positions in front of the Houthulst Forest, during the Battle of Passchendaele (Third Battle of Ypres). Thomas died of wounds received Tuesday 13 November 1917, he was aged 21 years.

Medals: 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Corporal, Thomas Wellings, is buried at Larch Wood (Railway Cutting) Cemetery West Vlaanderen, Belgium
C.W.G.C. Ref: – I.A.17

Also refer to

• Macclesfield Troops pre WWI
• Photos from Barnswood archive Macclesfield WW1
• ‘Big Hats, Shorts and Dyb Dyb Dyb’ – a history of Macclesfield and Congleton Scouts by Norman Gosling
• WWI List of Addresses Trevor Druce Macclesfield Reflects