David Cuthbert Thomas
Encyclopedia
David Cuthbert Thomas was a Welsh soldier of the First World War.
Thomas was the son of Evan and Ethelinda Thomas of Llanedy Rectory, Pontardulais, Glamorgan
. His first commission was as a Second Lieutenant
in the 3rd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. That regiment also included the writers Robert Graves
and Siegfried Sassoon
, with whom he became close friends. He was then trained and posted to the same regiment's 1st Battalion, which was then attached to 22 Brigade, itself part of 7th Infantry Division. On 18 March 1916 Thomas was leading a working party to repair wire emplacements in no man's land at the Citadel, near Fricourt
in France when he was shot in the throat. He then walked to a first aid post for treatment but died soon afterwards after he began choking. He is buried at reference D3 in Point 110 New Military Cemetery at Fricourt
. Sassoon wrote the poem 'Not Dead' in Thomas's memory and he also appears in Graves' autobiography Good-Bye to All That, Sassoon's 'Sherston trilogy
' of fictionalised autobiographies (as "Dick Tiltwood") and several other poems by both men.
Thomas was the son of Evan and Ethelinda Thomas of Llanedy Rectory, Pontardulais, Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
. His first commission was as a Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the 3rd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. That regiment also included the writers Robert Graves
Robert Graves
Robert von Ranke Graves 24 July 1895 – 7 December 1985 was an English poet, translator and novelist. During his long life he produced more than 140 works...
and Siegfried Sassoon
Siegfried Sassoon
Siegfried Loraine Sassoon CBE MC was an English poet, author and soldier. Decorated for bravery on the Western Front, he became one of the leading poets of the First World War. His poetry both described the horrors of the trenches, and satirised the patriotic pretensions of those who, in Sassoon's...
, with whom he became close friends. He was then trained and posted to the same regiment's 1st Battalion, which was then attached to 22 Brigade, itself part of 7th Infantry Division. On 18 March 1916 Thomas was leading a working party to repair wire emplacements in no man's land at the Citadel, near Fricourt
Fricourt
Fricourt is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Fricourt is situated on the D147 and D64 junction, some northeast of Amiens.-History:...
in France when he was shot in the throat. He then walked to a first aid post for treatment but died soon afterwards after he began choking. He is buried at reference D3 in Point 110 New Military Cemetery at Fricourt
Fricourt
Fricourt is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Fricourt is situated on the D147 and D64 junction, some northeast of Amiens.-History:...
. Sassoon wrote the poem 'Not Dead' in Thomas's memory and he also appears in Graves' autobiography Good-Bye to All That, Sassoon's 'Sherston trilogy
Sherston trilogy
A series of books by the English poet and novelist, Siegfried Sassoon, consisting of Memoirs of a Fox-Hunting Man, Memoirs of an Infantry Officer, and Sherston's Progress...
' of fictionalised autobiographies (as "Dick Tiltwood") and several other poems by both men.
External links
- Entry on the Commonwealth War Graves CommissionCommonwealth War Graves CommissionThe Commonwealth War Graves Commission is an intergovernmental organisation of six independent member states whose principal function is to mark, record and maintain the graves, and places of commemoration, of Commonwealth of Nations military service members who died in the two World Wars...
Debt of Honour Register - Thomas on the war memorial at Llanedy