John Thomas Born 10th May 1886 in Higher Openshaw, Manchester, England. He was the son of Edward Thomas a boot and shoe maker, his mother Elizabeth was a nurse. He received the normal education that was given during the late 1980s at St. Barnabas’s School, Openshaw, Manchester.
In 1908 at the age of 22 he enlisted as a private in the 2/5th North Staffordshire Regiment. He moved to the Army Service Corps at Hulme Barracks on 7th June 1909. After serving for three years he became a reservist and joined the Merchant Marine ASC at Woolwich and was aboard the “Lusitania” when it was torpedoed on 7th May 1915, he was rescued and taken to Liverpool, he returned to his regiment and was sent to France as a Lance Corporal, during fierce fighting with the enemy at Cambrai he was wounded and sent to hospital.
On the return to his Regiment he found himself again engaged in fierce fighting with the enemy, this time at Bourlon Wood, Fontaine- Notre-Dame, France, where, on 17th November 1917 at 31 years of age he won the Victoria Cross.
His Citation, published in the London Gazette 13th February 1918, as follows:- “For most conspicuous bravery and initiative in action. He saw the enemy making preparations for a counter attack, and with a comrade, on his own initiative, decided to make a close reconnaissance. These two went out in broad daylight, in full view of the enemy and under heavy machine gun fire. His comrade was hit within a few yards of the trench, but undeterred, Lance Corporal Thomas went on alone. Working round a small copse he shot three enemy snipers and then pushed on to a building used by the enemy as a night post. From here he saw whence the enemy were bringing up their troops and where they were congregating. He stayed in this position for an hour, sniping the enemy the whole time and doing great execution. He returned to our lines, after being away three hours with information of the utmost value, which enabled definite plans to be made and artillery fire to be brought on the enemy’s concentration, so that when the attack took place it was broken up”.
John Thomas was initiated into the Order in the Sir John Archdeacon Lodge Manchester Province, date unknown.
If you wish to read the full storyplease click on this link No34 Victory Cross Winners Vol 2