Thomas Givens

Killed in Action on the 21/10/1914 near the town of Poezelhoek on the opening day of the Battle of Langemarck (part of the Battle of Ypres)

Thomas tried the Army when he was 17 but left after 2 weeks with the Highland Light Infantry. At the outbreak of war he enlisted in the Royal Scots Fusiliers. Thomas and the Battalion landed in Zeebrugge on the 06/10/1914 and were part of the 21st Brigade, 7th Division. The Battalion were in the town of Poezelhoek (7 miles from Langemarck) when Thomas fell 15 days later on the opening day of the Battle of Langemarck which was part of the Battles of Ypres, 19th October - 22nd November 1914 : Often known as the First Battle of Ypres, this is a series of named Battles that also form part of the outflanking encounter. It becomes a desperate epic fight east of the city of Ypres which finally results in stalemate and entrenched warfare. It takes place at the same time as the Battle of the Yser, fought nearby by the Belgian Army against the Germans, and the Battles to the south at Messines, Armentieres and La Bassee. By the 18/10/1914 the British 7th Division, originally sent to Belgium to assist in the defence of Antwerp, has moved westwards and has now taken up a line just outside the city of Ypres (Ieper). To their north, the six Belgian Divisions hold the canal and the River Yser, assisted by a brigade of French Marins Fusiliers at Dixmude (Diksmuide). The situation is still fluid. British intelligence does not reveal the full extent of German forces which are now advancing towards Menin and Ypres. The rest of the British Expeditionary Force is now moving northwards from the Aisne and is beginning to deploy in French Flanders, with the Cavalry Division taking up positions south east of Ypres. SEE PHOTOS x 15 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY OCTOBER 1914 and PHOTOS x 27 FOR THE 7th DIVISION BOOK (from Thomas and the Battalion / Division landing at Zeebrugge until his death 15 days later). Thomas was a musician and played in the Rosehall Colliery band. He is also remembered on the St. Patrick's Church Roll of Honour and in the St. Augustine's Parish (book) Roll of Honour. See photos for Thomas' Medal Index Card, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Menin Gate Memorial Panel List, his name on the Menin Gate Memorial, his listing in the De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, Thomas' Pension Records x 2, his Attestation Papers (1904) x 4 and the Royal Scots Fusiliers Cap Badge. Finally, SEE PHOTOS x 15 FROM THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL SCOTS FUSILIERS BOOK (2nd BATTALION) OCTOBER 1914, PHOTOS x 12 FOR THE 7th DIVISION ORDER OF BATTLE (the Division Thomas was with when he fell) and a Newspaper clipping from the Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser 27/03/1915.