Thomas Allen Rose

A Captain with the 1st Bn. Thomas died on 23rd of August 1914 at the age of 40. 

Thomas was born at Aldershot on 17 August 1874, a son of Major Thomas Chapel Rose, of the Army Pay Corps, and Mrs. Augusta Decima Rose. Thomas' father died in 1890. In 1891 his family lived at Sunny Side, Severn Bank, Shrewsbury. Thomas' mother's maiden name was Leathes. She had been born at Herringfleet and related to the Leathes-Prior family. By 1911 his moher was living at 383 London Road, Lowestoft. 

Thomas attended Bedford Grammar School from 1884 to 1890, and was then a pupil at Shrewsbury School.

Thomas was appointed 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Scots Fusiliers on 7 December 1895; Lieutenant on 6 February 1898.

From 1899 he was attached to the West African Frontier Force and served in North Nigeria in the Munshi Expedition of 1900, and was Mentioned in Despatches; in North Nigeria 1900 in the expedition against the Chief of Tawari, again Mentioned in Despatches; in North Nigeria in 1901 in the expedition against the Emir of Yolu.

Thomas was promoted Captain on 16 February 1901. 

He served in the Aro Expedition in Southern Nigeria, 1901-2, and was slightly wounded, and again Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the Distinguished Service Order (London Gazette 12 September 1902). 

Thomas was involved in the operations against the Okpotos in Bassa Province 1903-4 and was a staff and transport officer. He served with the North Nigeria Regiment from 1907 to 1914. 

Thomas married Elizabeth Mary Rearden, at London, in 1911. SHe alos lived at 383 London Road, South Lowestoft, and later at Flat 4 Eversfield, Clarence Parade, Southsea. 

In 1914 Thomas commanded C Company of the 1st Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers. The Battalion landed at Le Havre on 14 August 1914. On 22 August 1914 the Battalion were at Jemappes, near Mons. The Battalion War Diary for 23 August 1914 has:

Germans attacked in force at two left crossings - Royal Scots Fusiliers held on until informed that units on both flanks had withdrawn and about 3 p.m. retired to the north edge of Flameries. Casualties: Captain Traill and Lieutenant Stiven wounded - 50 rank and file killed and wounded. Before retirement all bridges were blown and all boats sunk.

5 p.m. Flameries - The Germans followed up our retirement through Mons over a bridge not successfully destroyed and opened fire from the coal dumps south of Flameries. They also had brought artillery close up to the firing line. There had been no time to entrench a position so the Battalion retired to the edge of the town where they were heavily shelled. At dusk the enemy withdrew and the Battalion went into billets. Casualties: Captain Rose and Captain Young wounded and missing - 100 killed and wounded.   

Thomas was reported wounded and missing and later concluded to have been killed in action on 23 August. Thomas' body was found by the Graves Registration Unit at map reference Sheet 45 P. 29.c. 50.20 and identified by his label badges. Thomas is buried in a very small cemetery at Flenu: nearly all of the men buried there were from the 1st Battalion and killed on 23 August 1914.