Also Served: Thomas Marcus Coxhead - Thomas Marcus COXHEAD
5 Wycherley Street, Prescot Gunner 137099, 30th DAC, Royal Field Artillery The birth of Thomas Marcus Coxhead was registered in Prescot Registration District in the June quarter of 1897. The 1901 census records that he was born in Ormskirk and that he was the son of Thomas and Minnie Coxhead. The family lived at Ring O'Bells Bridge in Lathom, Lancashire.
By the time of the 1911 census, it would appear that Minnie had died because Thomas (Sr) is recorded as being married to Mary Elizabeth Coxhead, further noting that they had been married for just one year. Thomas Senior is a Hotel Barman on Lord Derby's estate, and 13 year old Thomas Marcus is listed as being at School. At this time,. the family lived at 20, Fifth Avenue, Fazackerley.
Thomas was an 18 year old Clerk when he enlisted for military service on 24th November 1915. He lived in Prescot by this time. He was initially assigned to the Army Reserve and then called up and posted to the Royal Artillery in May 1916, going to France on 29th October of that year.
Thomas served as a Driver with 30th Divisional Ammunition Column. He will have been responsible for driving a team of up to six horses as they moved ammunition between various stores and the front line, a highly dangerous job.
He remained in France for the remainder of the war, apart from a 14 day leave period in November 1918, and finally returned to the UK on 18th June 1919 for demobilisation, which occurred on 31st March 1920.
Thomas (in uniform), pictured with two unnamed friends. Picture courtesy of Cissie Smith, Thomas' daughter
A group picture, also provided by Cissie, shows Thomas seated front left. I am very grateful to Cissie for allowing me to use these pictures
Thomas was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the late summer of 1921, Thomas married Sarah Ann Auden in Liverpool and they went on to have six children. Thomas worked at BICC in Prescot. Four of his sons married girls from Prescot.
The 1939 National register, shown below, recorded Thomas living in Liverpool, where he was employed as a Maintenance Electrician
(Additional research by John Yates)
Thomas died on 11th December 1955, at which time he lived at 13, July Road, Liverpool 6, a home still occupied by Thomas' son, Bill
Ref. No.: A0301
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