William Thomas's Story.
Birkenhead News 28 February 1917
“Cheerful to the Last.”
Ex-Corporation Employee Dies of Wounds
We regretfully announce the death from wounds of Pte. W J Monks, of the South Lancs. Regt. His wife, who resides at 146, Patterson Street, had a cheerful letter from her husband on Friday last, and on the following day she received word from the War Office of his death from wounds. Previous to joining up (he was an attested man 40 years of age) he was in the employ of the Birkenhead Corporation at the Electric Works for fourteen years. He leaves a wife and six children. The sister in charge of the No. 2 Casualty Clearing Station writes to Mrs. Monks expressing her regret. She says :- “I am exceedingly grieved to have to inform you that your husband was admitted to hospital suffering from gunshot wounds in the left leg and a compound fracture. Although everything was done for him he passed away on the same night.” A pal of the late soldier also writes :- “He had been the greatest of mates to me, and I feel his loss very much. From what I can gather he was cheerful to the last, and even when on the stretcher he calmly smoked a cigarette. I must say your husband was well liked by the officers and the Tommies out here.”
This extract from the Birkenhead News is reproduced word for word. It records Thomas as T J Monks, however his correct name is Thomas William Monks (per soldier’s pension records).