Thomas Sharp

War Service

Before the war Nellie and Thomas lived at 105 Hunt Street, Castleford.
It is not known where he did his military training, but entered service as a private in the 9th battalion Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. He served in France and died during the battle of the Somme 1916. he is commemorated on the Tiepval monument. Thomas left a widow Nellie and son George Arthur.

Family Life

Thomas was a glass gatherer at the Breffitts Glass Works until Breffitts moved to St.Helens. He then worked as a coal miner at Wheldale Colliery. His son George Arthur was born 14th June 1914. After Thomas died, Nellie and her son went back to live at her mother’s home in Pauline terrace along with her sister Mary whose husband Fred Sykes of Mirfield also died in the war. Mary had two children Eva and Fred, they continued to live as two fatherless families in Leeds Road, Castleford.
Nellie and her son were awarded an army pension of 13s 9d for her and 6s 8d for George per week in 1918 (2 years after Thomas’death). The family did not cope on a war pension and Nellie eventually found part-time work at the Albion Cinema cleaning then at the Acme Fisheries close by. George Arthur married Lucy Empson who had three children; two of which survived and Nellie went to live with her son and his family until her death.

Thomas Sharp with his wife Nellie