Pte 300190 Thomas Bergin

• Age: 25
• From: Ashton-in-Makerfield, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 6th October 1917
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: P31-34 162 162A 163A

Thomas Bergin was born in the summer of 1892 at Ashton in Makerfield, the son of Thomas Bergin and his wife Mary Elizabeth (née Ralphson). His father was born in Tramore, County Waterford, Ireland, and his mother in Ashton-in-Makerfield. They married in 1888 and had 14 children, all born in Ashton-in-Makerfield, four of whom died young.

Thomas had an older brother John Parnell, born in 1889, and an older sister Mary, born in 1890. Thomas’ twin, Catherine, died in infancy.  Another Catherine was born in 1894, and another set of twins in 1896, Francis, who died in infancy, and William, who died at age 4.  The name Francis was given to the next son, born in 1898.  Hannah, born in 1900, died at age 1, and the next daughter, born in 1901 was also called Hannah.  The four youngest children all survived:  William 1904, Winifred 1906, Elizabeth 1908, and Johanna, born in 1910.

In 1891, before Thomas’ birth, the family lived in Liverpool Road, Ashton-in-Makerfield, close to his maternal grandparents, Peter and Mary Ralphson. 

At the time of the 1901 census, his parents, with six children, are living with his grandfather Peter Ralphson at 30 Liverpool Road, Ashton. His father, 39, works below ground in a coal mine, his mother is 32, and Thomas is 8.

The 1911 Census shows Thomas living with his brother John Parnell at 1 Monica Street, Ashton in Makerfield. John Parnell is aged 22, born 1889 and is a miner who was born in Ashton in Makerfield as was his wife Hannah aged 18, born 1893. They have been married for less than a year at the time of the Census. Thomas aged 18, born 1893 works in a colliery as a hewers drawer underground and also at the address is their sister Catherine aged 16, born 1894 and she is a packer for a chocolate manufacturer. 

His parents are still at 30 Liverpool Road, with the six youngest children at home.  His father is 49, a coal hewer, his mother 44.  

Thomas enlisted in Knowsley in September 1914 according to information provided to the  CWGC by the family. He originally served as Private 250432, Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry and was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 300190 when he was killed in action on the 06th October 1917, aged 25, during the Third Battle of Ypres.

18^th Battalion War Diary for 06^th October 1917

Enemy shelled heavily, all calibres and trench mortars on shell holes and Picquet Line. Direct hit on No.10 post. Retaliation shoot by our artillery with good results. 50 O.R. transferred to 17^th (Ser) Battn. King’s (Liverpool Regt).

Killed

300306 Sergt  Lowe W.J.

331166 Pte Aird J

300283 Sergt J Hayes

300409 Cpl Worthington T.E.

300190 Pte Bergin T   

Thomas has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station. 

His mother received his Army pay and a War Gratuity of £13-10s, and was awarded a pension of 12/- a week from May 1918, still living at 30 Liverpool Road.  A later address is given as 252 Old Road, Ashton. A pension card in the name of his father gives his address as Railway Cottage, Tramore, County Waterford.

Sadly, Thomas’ name does not appear on any Ashton-in-Makerfield memorial.

His mother died in the September quarter of 1948, aged 80. 

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