Pte 25732 Thomas Prescott Gaskell

• Age: 23
• From: Upholland
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 25th July 1917
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Cemetery
  Panel Ref: LXIV.A.1

Thomas Prescott Gaskell was born on 10th October 1893 at Upholland, the son of John Gaskell and his wife Jane (nee Webster). He was baptised on the 26^th November 1893 at St Thomas the Martyr, Church of England, Upholland.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 2 Digmoor, Upholland, Wigan. His father, John, is aged 38, born in Upholland in 1863, occupation miner, his mother, Jane, is aged 39, also born in Upholland in 1862, they have two children, both of whom were also born in Upholland; Esther Evelyn aged 9, born 1892 and Thomas Prescott aged 7, born 1894.

On 1911 Census Thomas is aged 17 and living at 57 Upholland Road and employed as a labourer in coal mine below ground. His parents are living at 57 Ormskirk Road, Upholland.

Thomas enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 25732 when he was killed in action on the 25th July, 1917 aged 23.

He now rests at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Belgium.

Tyne Cot Cemetery is located in an area which was known as the Ypres Salient where Commonwealth, French, Belgian and German forces fought almost continuously throughout the First World War.

In 1917, British forces launched the Third Battle of Ypres, which raged from July to November. Forces from the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa fought to push the Germans off the low ridges that dominate the area. On 4 October 1917, during the phase known as the Battle of Passchendaele, the 3rd Australian Division captured a group of German Bunkers on the ridge below the village of Passchendaele.

One of these bunkers was unusually large and was used as an advanced dressing station after its capture. From 6 October 1917 to the end of March 1918, 343 graves were made, on two sides of it, by the 50th (Northumbrian) and 33rd Divisions, and by two Canadian units. The cemetery was in German hands again from 13 April to 28 September, when it was finally recaptured, with Passchendaele, by the Belgian Army.

Tyne Cot Cemetery was greatly enlarged after the Armistice when remains were brought in from the battlefields of Passchendaele and Langemarck, and from a few small burial grounds.

Soldiers Effects to his father John and pension to his mother Jane.

A memorial service was held for him at Digmoor Mission and his name appears on the family grave in the churchyard at Upholland upon which is inscribed:

Pvt T P Gaskell

KLR

ONLY SON OF JOHN AND JANE

WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION 25 JULY 1917 AGE 23

“AT REST”

He is also commemorated on the Upholland War Mmemorial.

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