Cpl 16466 Thomas Clayton Lindsay

• Age: 22
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 25th August 1917
• Commemorated at: Derry House Cem No.2
  Panel Ref: II.E.17

He enlisted in Liverpool on the 01^st September 1914, as Private 16466, No. 2 Company,18^th (Pals) Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment, giving his age as 19 years and 107 days, and his occupation as a clerk. He was described as being 5’ 7 and three quarter inches tall, weighing 128 lbs, 34” chest with a sallow complexion, blue eyes, and red hair (‘brown’ initially written and crossed out). He states his religion as Church of England, and he gives his father, Alexander, as his next of kin.

Whilst training at Knowsley, Thomas was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on 23rd March 1915 and appointed paid Lance Corporal on 29th May 1915 whilst training at Belton Park in Lincolnshire. After final infantry training at Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain, Thomas sailed to France with his battalion, disembarking at Boulogne on the 07^th November 1915.

He was appointed Acting Corporal on 02nd July 1916 and was confirmed in the rank on 09th July 1916, during the Battle of the Somme, and consequently granted Class I Proficiency Pay. Thomas survived the Somme, and went on leave to the UK from 22nd January 1917, rejoining his unit on 06th February 1917.

Thomas was sent to 97 Field Ambulance on 9/4/1917, with PUO (Pyrexia (fever) of Unknown Origin); he  resumed duty on 14/4/1917.

Thomas saw further action at the Battle of Arras, then at the end of May 1917 the battalion arrives in the dreaded Ypres Salient.  The Third Battle of Ypres (also known as Passchendaele) begins on 31^st July 1917. The 18^th Battalion is involved in the fighting in Sanctuary Wood, then takes over trenches in the Wytschaete area. 

The Battalion War Diary records:  August 22^nd, In trenches.  The battalion took over the front line system left sector, relieving the 46^th Australian Infantry Battn, No. 2 Coy on the left, No.4 on the right, No.1 in support, and No.3 in reserve.  [Thomas was in No.2 Company.]  Casualties recorded on August 25^th: 4 Killed, 7 Wounded, 1 Died of Wounds. 

Corporal Thomas Clayton Lindsay was one of those killed in action that day.  He was 22 years of age.

Thomas now rests at Derry House Cemetery No.2, Flanders where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“A LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY  A SOUL FOR HIS GOD”

Wytschaete (now Wijtschate) was taken by the Germans early in November 1914. It was recovered by Commonwealth forces during the Battle of Messines on 7 June 1917, but fell into German hands once more on 16 April 1918. The village was recovered for the last time on 28 September.

Derry House Cemetery (there is now only one) was named after a farm, which had been nicknamed "Derry House" by soldiers of the Royal Irish Rifles. It was begun among the ruins of the farm in June 1917 by a field ambulance unit of the 11th Division (32nd Brigade). It was used as a front line cemetery until December 1917, and again in October 1918 by the 2nd London Scottish.

The cemetery contains 166 First World War burials and the remains of a concrete command post built by engineers of the 37th Division in July 1917.

The cemetery was designed by W.H. Cowlishaw.

The 18th Btn Diary gives the names of those killed alongside Thomas as  Private 16289 George Brough, Private 24765 William Burrows,  Private 52437 William Ridgway and also Sergeant 16486 Harry Spencer who was wounded and died later that same day.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on the 29th August 1917:

THE FIRST OF NINE

News has reached Liverpool today of the death at the front of Corporal Thomas C. Lindsay, aged 22, of the magistrates' clerk's department at Dale Street. He was appointed to the the department in June 1913 as a junior clerk. He joined one of the Pals' battalions in September 1914, and had been in France since October 1915. His parents reside at 44 Needham Road. This is the first member of the magistrates' clerk's staff in the army, numbering nine in all, to be killed, although several have been wounded.

Thomas’ death was announced in the Liverpool Daily Post on 30^th August 1917: 

“The death has occurred at the front of Corporal Thomas C. Lindsay, aged 22, of the magistrates’ clerk department at Dale Street.  He was appointed to the department in June, 1913, as a junior clerk.  He joined the King’s (Liverpool Regiment) in September, 1914, and had been in France since October [sic], 1915.  His parents reside at 44, Needham Road.  This is the first member of the magistrates’ clerk’s staff in the Army, numbering nine in all, to be killed, although several have been wounded.” 

His parents also placed a notice on that day:

 “August 25, killed in action, aged 22 years, Corporal Thomas C. Lindsay, (K.L.R.), dearly-beloved only son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Lindsay, of 44, Needham Road.  (His duty done.)”

The next day, on 31^st August, a notice from his aunt:  

“In loving remembrance of my dear nephew, Corporal T. C. Lindsay, K.L.R., killed Saturday, August 25.  Never forgotten by his loving Auntie Maggie, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.  “A life for his country, a soul for his God.”

His parents received his personal effects one year later, in August 1918: 1 hymn book, 3 French books, 1 writing pad, letters, photos + cards, 1 Testament, 1 Cap Badge, 1 fountain pen, gold ring, diary, match box cover, 1 belt with button, watch + chain + 2 keys, silver match box, 1 silver cig holder case, buttons, cig holder, 1 knife, disc, horse shoe, yale key, metal cuff links, watch cover, badge, 1 pipe, knife, fork, purse, 1 farthing, 1 bag.

Thomas earned his three medals, which his mother signed for on 05th June 1920 and 14th October 1922: the Victory Medal, the British War Medal, and the 1914-15 Star.

His father died aged 63 in 1931, and his mother in 1940, aged 70.

Thomas is also commemorated on the following memorials –

Liverpool Magistrate’s Court now housed at QEII Courts, Derby Square, Liverpool 

Boaler Street Council School, Newsham Park.

We currently have no further information on Thomas Clayton Lindsay. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.