Current Information:

Born-India

Enlisted-Leyton

9th Rifle Brigade were part of 42 Brigade, 14th Division that arrived in France in May, 1915, and in June and July 1915 they were in the trenches in the Railway Wood sector of the Ypres salient. On 10th July, 1915, the enemy planes and observation balloons were active throughout the day. Fearing that there may be an infantry attack the British artillery bombarded the German lines from 5pm to 5.30pm. This led to an immediate retaliation by the enemy and their artillery plastered the front line held by 9th Rifle Brigade and causing over twenty casualties, five of whom were killed. One of these was George Thomas.