John Thomas's Story.
John was born in the parish of St Thomas' C of E Church, Wellington Road South, Stockport. He was married man and is believed to have married Emily Howard between January and March 1895. In 1911 the family lived at 15 Caroline Street, Stockport. Later living at 37 Lancaster Street, Portwood and, over the years, had seven children. John worked locally as a gasser at Bunting's Mill until he enlisted in the army on 7 September 1914. By 1916, one of his sons was also old enough to be serving with the forces. John was killed during a tour of duty in the trenches.
John was killed 19 May 1916, during this period the 10 Cheshire’s were in the line at Broadmarsh Crater now part of the Vimy Memorial Park. On the 18 May the Germans attacked and took the crater posts at Broadmarsh, a counterattack was made which involved some serve hand to hand fighting and the Cheshire’s succeeded in driving the Germans out of the crater posts but could not retake the crater, they suffered 2 officers killed, 4 wounded. 11 other ranks killed and 40 wounded. On the 19, the following day some shelling and trench mortars happened during the morning and afternoon, then at 9.15pm and attack was made on the portion of the trench and crater that the enemy still held, they were driven out and posts recaptured and consolidated.
Sergeant Wood later wrote to his wife explaining that John had been outside his dugout in the trench, eating his dinner, when a shell burst over him. He was hit by shrapnel and died within a few minutes. "It was a blow to all who knew him for he was respected by everyone."
Based on this it would be a fair assumption to conclude that John was killed before the attack at 9.15pm and during the shelling that took place during the day.