Thomas John Foley

Died of Wounds on the 05/07/1915 in No. 12 Stationary Hospital (on the outskirts of Rouen) from a bullet wound to the head from a German sniper. Wound received at Rue de Bois on the 16/05/1915 at the Battle of Festubert

The Battalion arrived at Boulogne on the 14/08/1914 and were part of the 5th Brigade, 2nd Division. Thomas served for a time in the Royal Scots in the 1890s before moving to Coatbridge. In August 1914 when war was declared Thomas re-enlisted this time with the Highland Light Infantry and sailed for France on the 27/12/1914. His Battalion was holding the trenches at Cuinchy in March 1915 when Thomas received a gunshot wound to the head on the 16/05/1915 from a German sniper at Rue de Bois during the Battle of Festubert, 15th - 25th May 1915 : The Battle was in effect a second phase of the recently failed attack on Aubers Ridge. The strategic context and why this battle took place are explained on that page. Once again, the attack would take the form of a pincer attack with two assault frontages: a northern one along the Rue du Bois near Port Arthur and Richebourg l'Avoue, and a southern one at Festubert. Thomas was in the No.10 Stationary Hospital on the 19/05/1915 before transferring to the No.12 Stationary Hospital at Rouen on the 02/06/1915 where he became seriously ill on the 27/06/1915. He died there from a gunshot wound to the head (fractured skull and abscess on the brain) on the 05/07/1915. SEE PHOTOS x 9 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY APRIL - MAY 1915. The War Diary states casualties for the 16/05/1915 were - 1 Officer Killed, 1 Wounded. 15 Other Ranks Killed, 97 Wounded. See Directory for Thomas' son-in-law Private James Collins' page. Thomas is also remembered on the St. Augustine's and St. Patrick's Churches Rolls of Honour (see photos). See photos for Thomas' Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clipping, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 3, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, St. Sever Cemetery, Headstone Report x 2, Thomas' Service Records x 19, the Highland Light Infantry Cap Badge and his Pension Records x 5. Thomas' grave inscription reads "IN MEMORY OF MY DEAR HUSBAND WHO DIED FOR KING AND COUNTRY". Finally, see photos x 12 for the 2nd Division Order of Battle (the Division Thomas was with when he fell) and Newspaper clippings from the Coatbridge Express x 2.