Also Served: George H Thomas - George H THOMAS
Eaton Street, Prescot Pte 13158, Royal Dublin Fusiliers George Thomas attested for military service on 7th September 1914.
He went to Gallipoli with his unit, arriving there on 7th August 1915.
The following article then appeared in the Prescot Reporter in September 1915.
Wounded By The Turks
Prescot Soldier's Daring
To the great joy and relief of his wife in Eaton Street, Prescot, and his relatives and friends in the district, news has been received that Pte G Thomas of 'D' Coy, 6th Royal Dublin Fusiliers, has only been wounded, thus dispelling the rumour that had been freely circulating in the town that he had been killed at the Dardanelles.
Private G Thomas writes to his parents at Elephant Lane, Thatto Heath, informing them of the extent of his injuries and assuring them that beyond this he is perfectly safe.
He says, 'Just a few lines to let you know that I was wounded on August 25th. I landed in hospital in Egypt on September 1st. I was shot through the right thigh and the bullet came through my back. As luck would have it, the bullet went right through without touching the bone. Lucky Teddy!
'I will tell you how I was wounded. We advanced on Wednesday night to the Ghurkas and Australians and we had to start to dig our trenches in the dark. We were digging away all the time the Turks were firing. We got down by daybreak and one trench was made safe. In the morning the Colonel ordered six of us out with our spades to do this work. The Turks were firing at us and I was hit.
' The wound is getting on wonderfully well but I have had dysentery. I am in a grand hospital where there is plenty of everything and we are well treated.
'I have fairly 'been amongst it' out here and I have seen some awful sights on the battlefield. No one can believe it except the men that are here. I have been in three battles and came through all right. I don't know whether you know the Fairclough's of St Helens. They have two sons out here. One was wounded the week before me, and the other was killed by a sniper.
'I am expecting to be home for my Christmas dinner, and to hear that the Turks are well beaten by then, as we have gained an awful lot of ground since we landed, and I think we will keep them on the run now.'
George was discharged on 6th April 1916, no longer being physically fit for military service.
George's medal entitlement was to the 1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and Silver War Badge Ref. No.:
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