2Lt Thomas James Kirk

Thomas was born in Aldershot and moved as a boy to Brentwood after his mother died and his father remarried. His father worked as a domestic gardener

During the first world war he went to France in 16th Dec 1914 as a sergeant with the 6th Dragoons. It seems very probable that he had military experience before the war for him to enter the war as a sergeant, and the unit he served came to France directly from India.

In March 1916 he moved to the Essex Regiment where he was promoted to Second Lieutenant. On 1st July 1916, at the start of the Battle of the Somme, his battalion were part of the 4th division - and tasked with taking Redan Ridge. At 7:30am they went over the top and advanced towards the German positions, but were faced with a strong German defence and the attack failed. During this Thomas was wounded; he died the following day.