Private 13048 Thomas Berrow

Killed in Action on Monday, 10th July 1916, age 23.
Commemorated on Pier and Face 7 B of Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

8th Bn., South Staffordshire Regiment. 51st Brigade of 17th Division.

Son of Joseph and Eliza Berrow, of 17, Brickhouse Lane, Great Bridge, Tipton, Staffs.
Born: West Bromwich, Enlisted: Tipton, Resident: Great Bridge.

First landed France & Flanders, 14th July 1915.
Medal entitlement: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Commemorated on the St. Paul's, Golds Hill Memorial.
Commemorated here because identified as Tipton on Commonwealth War Graves site.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/768380/thomas-berrow/

Genealogical Data

Birth of Thomas Berrow registered in March quarter 1893 in West Bromwich. Mother's maiden name was Ball. Thomas was born on December 25th 1892 at 48 George Street, West Bromwich.

1901 Census
75 New Street, West Bromwich, Staffs.
Joseph Berrow (45, Nail Caster, born West Bromwich), his wife Eliza (43, born Oldbury), and their 4 children: Joseph (15, Labourer in Ironworks, born West Bromwich), Thomas (8, Scholar, born West Bromwich), Daisy (6, Scholar, born West Bromwich), and John (3, born West Bromwich).

1911 Census
17 Brickhouse Lane, Tipton, Staffs.
Joseph Berrow (55, Moulder, born West Bromwich), his wife Eliza (53, born West Bromwich), and their 4 surviving children of 11: Joseph (25, Moulder, born West Bromwich), Thomas (18, Moulder, born West Bromwich), Daisy (16, born West Bromwich), and Jack (13, Moulder's Assistant, born West Bromwich).

Personal Data

Thomas was born in West Bromwich, but by the time of the 1911 census the Berrow family were living in Brickhouse Lane, Great Bridge. Thanks to Mandy Yates for pointing out his omission.

After Thomas's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £2/11/0d (2 pounds and 11 shillings); this was paid to his mother, Eliza, in November 1916. His War Gratuity was £8/10/0d (8 pounds and 10 shillings), this was also paid to his mother in September 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that Thomas had enlisted in approximately August 1914.

Thomas's mother, Mrs Eliza Berrow, was granted a Dependant's Pension of 6/0d (6 shillings exactly) per week from 27th February 1917. Her address at this time was 17 Brickhouse Lane, Great Bridge, Tipton, Staffs.

Action resulting in his death

The 8th Battalion South Staffs, in 17th (Northern) Division, did not attack on the opening day of the Battle of the Somme, 1st July, but came into action the next day when they attacked and took Fricourt. This is commemorated in Fricourt by the naming of "Rue du Major Raper" after the senior officer who lead the attack. Following the success of capturing Fricourt, the advance continued slowly northwards towards Contalmaison, with numerous attacks on Quadrangle Support, just south of Contalmaison.

On the 10th July, the 8th South Staffs made the eighth attack on Quadrangle Support. This was at first successful, but they were compelled to withdraw after 3 costly hours due to the lack of progress on their flanks. However, during the evening, the Germans were seen to withdraw and Quadrangle Support was occupied by the 10th Sherwood Foresters, with the weakened South Staffs now in support.

The attack had been costly, with 56 South Staffs men being killed on the day, amongst them Tipton men Thomas Berrow, Cecil Fraser and John Palmer. None of the three has a known grave, and are all commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

Newspaper Cuttings

West Bromwich News 16th September 1916
GREAT BRIDGE MAN KILLED IN ACTION.
PRIVATE THOMAS BERROW.
Mrs. Berrow, of 17 Brickhouse Lane, Great Bridge, has received official intimation that her son, Private Thomas Berrow, of the 8th South Staffs, has been killed in action on 10th July. He was a single man, and 25 years of age (editor: actually 23), and he enlisted on September 6th 1914, and was sent to France on July 14th of the following year. He worked before the war at the Aluminium Works at Villa Cross.