Also Served: Tom Stanley Gardner - Tom Stanley GARDNER
29, Station Road, Prescot Cpl. 1400, 1/5th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment Tom Gardner was born in Kirkby in 1893. By the time of the 1911 census, the family were living in Station Road, where Tom, his father (Lawrence) and three brothers, all worked at the Wire Works.
Tom was a pre-war Territorial, joining up as an 18 year old on the 23rd January 1911. Promoted to Lance Corporal on 22nd January 1915, he went to France with the 1/5th Bn on 13th February 1915 aboard the ss 'King Edward', and a week later was promoted to full Corporal.
He was wounded on 5th May 1915, receiving a Gun Shot Wound to the shoulder. This was reported in the Manchester Evening News on 12th May (below). After treatment at a clearing hospital, he was returned to the UK on 8th May.
Manchester Evening News, 12th May 1915
The Battalion War Diary for the day on which Cpl Gardner was wounded reads as below
'VLAMERTINGHE
4th May 1915 8 am
Lt BROWN and a party of Grenadiers were sent to prevent enemy working down old Lancs Fus trench running N.E from farm. This officer commenced to build up barricade close to the enemy and advanced alone close enough to throw four or five hand grenades into them.
4th May 1915 10 am
This officer was killed and soon afterwards a second barricade was set by Lt ACTON 150 yards from the farm.
4th May 1915 4 pm
By this time the enemy had advanced to within 400 yards of our front trenches and had commenced a short trench. During the whole day a very heavy artillery fire had been kept up (both high explosive and shrapnel) on our trenches, especially upon SHELL TRAP FARM
5th May 1915 3.30 am
During the night SHELL TRAP FARM was strengthened by another 1 1/2 platoons. Touch was gained with the 1st Welsh Regt. And one platoon of Cheshire Regt was posted between farm and 1st Welsh.
At dawn enemy were observed to have dug a short length of trench 300-400 yards from our front line and to have consolidated their positions 600 yards from us.
5th May 1915 Cont
The day passed quietly until 5 pm when a very heavy consolidated fire from one or more battery of 5.9 Howitzers was opened on our front line trench. A considerable amount of the trench was blown away and a number of men were buried, 2 Coys suffering heavily. This fire was maintained until 8.30 pm and intermittent field gun fire was kept up until midnight.
5th May 1915 8 pm
An attack was expected and very valuable artillery support was afforded by the Canadian Artillery. The support Coy ("B") was sent into the front trenches. Reserve Coy ("A") under Capt PILKINGTON arrived and was also sent into the front trenches. About the same time, Lt Col CUTHBERTSON and 2 platoons of 2nd Monmouth Regt came up shortly afterwards followed by 1 1/2 Coys of same regiment.
6th May 1915 2 am
Casualties during the day being Capt STANNARD and 2 rank and file killed, Capt MacPHAIL and 59 rank and file wounded'
Having served the four years for which he originally signed up, he was discharged on 22nd January 1916.
He was entitled to the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
I believe Tom married Maud Lampitt in Aston, Warwickshire, in 1923, and they had one daughter, Joan (b.1924). Tom died in Birmingham in 1955, aged 62.
Tom Gardner's entry in the National Probate Register
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