Pte 51652 Thomas Marron

Thomas Marron was born in Liverpool on 10th January 1888, the son of John Marron and his wife Susan (née Mohan). His parents were both born in County Cavan, Ireland, married in about 1881 and had nine children.  After the birth of Catherine (Katie), by 1883 they had moved to Liverpool, where Elizabeth was born in 1883 (but sadly died at age 1), followed by Patrick in 1884, John James 1885, Thomas 1888, Ellen 1889 (also died at age 1), Maria 1891, Edward 1893, and Susan in 1896. 

Thomas was baptised in Our Lady of Immaculate Conception on 15th January 1888.

 

In 1891 the family, with five children and a lodger, are living at 4 Luton Grove, Kirkdale. His father is a police constable.  Thomas is 3.

 

In 1901 they are at 22 Freeland Street, Kirkdale. His father, is aged  42 and is a police pensioner, his mother is also 42. There are six children in the household; Patrick, 17, is an assistant grocer, John, is 15, an assistant baker, Thomas is 12, Maria 10, Edward 6, and Susan 4. Also  Peter Harrison, a visitor from Ireland.

 

By 1911 they have moved to 32 Medlock Street, Kirkdale. His father, John, is a police pensioner, mother Susan is 51, Thomas, 22, is a furniture remover, Edward 18 is a compositor, Susan, 15, is a shop assistant.  Also in the household are his newly married sister Katie, 27, and her husband Thomas Butler. 

 

Thomas enlisted in Liverpool as Private 51652, 17th (Pals) Bn, King’s (Liverpool) Regiment.

It is not known when he shipped to France or  when he was transferred to the 13th Bn, K.L.R., but whether with the 17th K.L.R. or the 13th Bn, Thomas would have taken part in the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele), and the German Spring Offensive.  

 

The 13th battalion War Diary records that, on 27th September 1918, after twelve continuous days in the trenches (front line and support), the battalion was ordered to capture the German Defensive System west of Ribecourt.  The attack was carried out at 5:20 a.m.  A hold up at Keating’s Lane caused heavy casualties to ‘C’ Company, but nests of Germans in dugouts readily surrendered and the attack went forward smoothly. The Division on the right did not hug their barrage but followed some distance behind their tanks. This resulted in several isolated hostile machine gun posts between their tanks and infantry shooting men of ‘C’ and ‘A’ Companies in the back.  The line was again held up about 50 yards short of the final objective where a few machine guns were still holding out.  ‘B’ Company dealt with hostile snipers on the high ground.  The attack achieved its objective, with 600 prisoners and 100 machine guns and rifles captured. Casualties: 6 Officers, 125 Other Ranks.

 

Thomas was one of those killed in action that day. He was 30 years old.

He was buried close to where he fell and his grave marked with a cross.  After the war, when dispersed graves were concentrated into larger cemeteries, Thomas’ grave was found.  CWGC graves registration shows some confusion, his first initial, regimental number, and regiment differing:  Pte. J. Marron, 51612 KRRC, and later corrected.  He was reburied at Flesquières Hill Cemetery, where he now rests.

Flesquieres village was attacked by the 51st (Highland) Division, with tanks, on the 20th November 1917, in the Battle of Cambrai, but held for a time by a German officer with a few men; it was captured on the 21st. It was lost in the later stages of the battle, and retaken on the 27th September 1918, by the 3rd Division.

Flesquieres Hill Cemetery was originally made by the 2nd Division, in 1918, behind a German cemetery ("Flesquieres Soldiers' Cemetery No.2"); but the German graves were removed after the Armistice to FLESQUIERES COMMUNAL CEMETERY GERMAN EXTENSION (which in its turn was removed, with 583 graves, in 1924). Plots III-VIII were created on the site of the German cemetery and in them were reburied 688 British soldiers from the battlefields of Havrincourt, Flesquieres, Marcoing and Masnieres and from a few other burial grounds. 

His parents, still living 32 Medlock Street, received Thomas’ effects, including a War Gratuity of £11-10s and a pension of 7/- a week.

 

His brother Edward served in the Merchant Marine during the war.