Pte 44259 Thomas Ismay

• Age: 21
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: 1/6 MANCHESTERS
• Died on Monday 2nd September 1918
• Commemorated at: Bancourt British Cemetery
  Panel Ref: II.D.5

Thomas was born in the first quarter of 1897 the son of Thomas William and his wife Amy (nee Harrison). His parents married in 1894 at St Augustine's Church, Everton.

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 103 Grey Rock Street in Liverpool. Thomas is 4 years of age and his father Thomas William is shown as a joiner by trade, born in Liverpool in 1870. His mother, Amy was also born in Liverpool in 1870. Also present in the household are his elder sister Gertrude born in 1896 and his two younger brothers James born in 1899 and Albert E. born in 1901. All of the children were born in Liverpool. 

His father died in the September quarter of 1901 aged 31.
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Thomas was educated at Bluecoat School in Wavertree. 

By 1911 his widowed mother is living at her own mothers address at 13 Pindar Street, Everton. Thomas is present, now aged 14 and shown as an apprentice to a pawnbroker. His youngest brother Albert is also present as is his grandmother Annie Harrison and his uncle Frederick. 

On 02nd September 1914 at St George's Hall in Liverpool, Thomas joined the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 17131, giving his age as 19 and five months, his occupation as a clerk. Note his increase in his age, one of many young men who falsified their age in order to serve overseas. He was described as being 5' 6" tall, weight 116 lbs,  with a 34"chest. he had a fresh complexion with hazel eyes and dark brown hair. He stated his religion as Protestant. His next of kin was recorded as his mother Mrs Amy Ismay, of 92 Aubrey St, Everton (later 17 McLeod St, Everton).

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

Thomas went to France with his Battalion on 07th November 1915 and saw action on the Somme. He was wounded on 08th July 1916 with a shrapnel wound to his left leg. He was treated in hospital in France before he returned to the UK on 19th November 1916. He did not return to the front until 03rd April 1917. 

Thomas was transferred to the 12th Bn of the Manchester Regiment on 21st September 1916 ultimately transferring to the 1/6th Manchester Regiment on 07th April 1918. His service number then being 44259.  

He was killed in action on 02nd September 1918 aged 21 and is buried at Bancourt British Cemetery in France where his headstone bears the poignant epitaph:

"MY LIFELONG SORROW". HIS MOTHER.

Bancourt was occupied by Commonwealth forces in March 1917. It was lost a year later during the German offensive in the spring of 1918, but recaptured by the New Zealand Division (in particular, the 2nd Auckland Battalion) on 30 August 1918.

The cemetery was begun by the New Zealand Division in September 1918; the original cemetery is now Plot I, Rows A and B. The remainder of the cemetery was made after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields east and south of Bancourt and from certain Allied and German cemeteries. 

The great majority of these graves dated from the winter of 1916-1917, the retreat of March 1918, or the advance of August-September 1918.

Bancourt British Cemetery now contains 2,480 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 1,462 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 43 casualties known or believed to be buried among them, and to one soldier buried in Bapaume Reservoir German Cemetery, whose grave could not be found on concentration.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

His personal effects were returned to his mother on 16th May 1919 described as "Religious book in case". She also received a Pension.

His mother died in the September quarter of 1953.

Thomas is commemorated on the Blue Coat School Memorial.

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