Pte 52097 Thomas Henry Chesters

• Age: 24
• From: Chorlton on Medlock, Manches
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 4th August 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Thomas Henry Chesters was born in the December quarter of 1893 in Chorlton-on-Medlock and was the son of William Henry Chesters and his wife Martha (nee Panter).

On the 1901 census the family are living at 26 Whitfield Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock. His father William Henry. is 34 years of age and is a horse keeper on farm, whilst his mother Martha is aged 30. Their children are recorded as Annie  aged 10, Thomas Henry 7, Ethel 2, and Edward 5 months (all were born in Manchester).

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 51 Russell Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester. His  father William Henry is aged 43, born  in Manchester in 1868  and is a wood packing case carter in a shipping warehouse and was born in Manchester. His wife Martha is aged 40, born 1871 in Manchester as were all their children. They have been married for twenty two years and have had nine children of which two have died. Those listed on the Census are shown as; Thomas Henry aged 17, a backer up for wood planer for a packing case manufacturer, Ethel aged 12, born 1899, Edward Hilyard aged 10, born 1901, Frederick aged 7, born 1904 and Emily aged 4, born 1907 are at school. Eliza is aged 1 and born in 1910. Also living at the property are Eliza Jane Burgess a niece aged 16, born 1895 and nephews Samuel and John Burgess aged 9 and 7.

His father died in the March quarter of 1913 aged 45. 

Thomas enlisted in Manchester and originally served as Private 1724 in the Manchester Regiment. Following a transfer he was serving in the 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 52097 when he was killed in action on the 04th August, 1917 aged 24 during the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele).

The 17th Battalion Diary groups the action of the opening day of the offensive up to the relief of the Battalion on 04th August as follows: 

On that day, the 89th Brigade was to follow up the attacks of the 21st and 90th Brigades and once their objectives had been taken, to go through them and secure a line of strong points on the German third line. The 89th Brigade line of attack was from the South West corner of Polygon Wood, to the Menin Road. The 17th Battalion The King’s Liverpool Regiment was on the left of the attack, and the 20th to the right, with the 19th Battalion and the 2nd Battalion The Bedfordshire Regiment, in Divisional Reserve.

The Battalion moved into assembly positions east of Maple Copse between 05.00 and 05.20am, they were heavily shelled and suffered many casualties. At 07.50 they began to advance with the 17th Battalion on the left, and the 20th on the right, the whole time under heavy shell fire. On reaching their position which was the Blue Line , troops of both the 21st and 90th Brigades were still pinned down and thus any attempt at further progress were futile.

Despite this they pushed on until their flank was just touching Clapham Junction. They then dug in and awaited the inevitable bombardment which hit them soon after. Despite this, they held onto the ground.

During the action and their time in the line the 17th Battalion lost three officers and 79 men killed or died of wounds, and four officers and 198 men wounded. They were eventually relieved on the night of 3rd -4th August.  

Thomas was one of the casualties referred to, he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

Thomas' death was reported in the Manchester Evening News on 27th August 1917

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