Lce-Cpl. Thomas Ashcroft, 41685, York and Lancaster Regiment 1st 4th Bn.

T. Ashcroft, 8th June 1918,
South Yorkshire Times

Service Details:
Lce-Cpl. Thomas Ashcroft, 41685, York and Lancaster Regiment 1st 4th Bn. Died 29th April 1918, Age 21.

Biography: 
"Lcp Thomas Ashcroft son of Mr & Mrs David Ashcroft 26 Broomhill, Wombwell was killed in Action in France on April 29th during a heavy bombardment. He enlisted in March 1917 and went to France in June. He was 21 years of age".

Taken from South Yorkshire Times, 8th June 1918.

Three of his brothers, David, Sam & William also served in WW1. Prior to the war Thomas was employed by one of the local collieries, His occupation is given as 'pony driver' on both the enlistment form and 1911 census. According to Thomas' service record at the time of enlisting he stood at 5ft, 3& 3/4" tall, weighed 133 lbs, had a scar on the bridge of his nose and was slightly flat footed. More poignantly, also contained within his service record are two letters from his mother, Alice, pleading to have her son's personal belongings returned, there is no reply to these petitions held within the records, so we will never know if she ever got a response or his items returned, Sadly it seems unlikely as Thomas has no known grave, perhaps his belongings were lost along with his body.

Grave:
No known grave.

War Memorials:
Tyne Cot Memorial, Panels 125 - 128,  Belgium
Wombwell, War Memorial, Park Street, South Yorkshire, S73 0HS

Source_____________________________________
South Yorkshire Times 8th June 1918
1901 &1911 census
Cwgc.org - Casualty details for T.Ashcroft
Service Record for T.Ashcroft