Thomas Leslie's Story.
Weaver Navigation minutes Volume 23, page 41 – The Engineer/Manager of the River Weaver, J. A. Saner, reported to the Trustees that Thos. Leslie Mills, aged 21, whose indentures as joiners apprentice expired March 21st last, joined H.M. Forces, November 13th 1914 and was reported on April 2nd 1918 to be wounded and missing. Page 98 - Named in the Engineers Annual Report 28th Nov. 1918. 2790 Corporal Thomas Leslie Mills, 5th Bat. Cheshire Regiment, was reported wounded and missing from April 2nd 1918; no further information is yet to hand.
C.W.G.C. remember a Thomas Leslie Mills, Service No 240763, 15th Bn. Cheshire Regiment, died 24th March 1918, he was 21 years, remembered on Pozieres Memorial, France. Son of George F. and Edith Mills, of 23 Wellington St. Castle Northwich, Cheshire.
Northwich Guardian 12th April 1918; WOUNDED AND MISSING, PRIVATE THOMAS LESLIE MILLS.
Mr. George F. Mills of 23 Wellington Street, Castle, bridge tenter at the Northwich Town Bridge, received a letter from his nephew, Sergeant Harry Wood, on Monday, informing him that his son, Private Thomas Leslie Mills, who was in the same battalion, had been wounded and was missing. Private Mills who was 21 years of age,was, prior to enlistment, an apprentice joiner at the Weaver Navigation. He was one of the youngsters who joined up in the company of the Cheshires raised by Captain George Hatt-Cook in 1914, and he became corporal-instructor at a Lewis Gun School. He only went to the front about eight weeks ago, and was in action in the first fortnight.
Northwich Guardian 6th September 1918; WOUNDED AND MISSING, PRIVATE THOMAS LESLIE MILLS.
Official intimation has been received by Mr. George F. Mills of 23 wellington Street, Castle, Northwich, bridge-master at the Northwich Town Bridge, that his son Private T. L. Mills of the Cheshire Regiment, was posted as wounded and missing on March 23rd. At the beginning of April Mr. Mills received a letter from his nephew, Sergeant Harry Ward, who was in the same battalion as his son, informing him that Leslie was wounded and missing but since then he had not been able to get any tidings. Private Mills who was 21 years of age, was, prior to enlistment an apprentice joiner at the Weaver Navigation. He was one of the youths who joined up in the company raised by Captain George Hatt-Cook in 1914 and he become corporal-instructor at the Lewis Gun School. He had been at the front only about eight weeks when he was reported missing. If any of Private Mills comrades, in the regiment, can give further information concerning his fate, the news will be gratefully received by his parents.
The C.W.G.C. date of dead was 24th March 1918, The first report of Thomas being wounded and missing was 12th April and there was no information, months later as per the second article 6th September, the family are still waiting/hoping/wondering if there is any news on their lad, Thomas Leslie Mills.
Cheshirebmd record the birth of Thomas Leslie Mills in 1897 in Northwich.
Research Bob Heaton