BELCHER Tom

891 Census, Ripple
Solomon Belcher, head, aged 34, Market Gardener
Mary J. Belcher, wife, aged 36
Joseph Belcher, son, aged 12, Scholar
Sarah A. Belcher, daughter, aged 10, Scholar
Annie E. Belcher, daughter, aged 9, Scholar
Thomas Belcher, son, age 7, Scholar
Mary J. Belcher, daughter, aged 3

1891 Census
Holly Green, Ripple
Solomon Belcher, head, aged 44, Market Gardener
Mary J. Belcher, wife, aged 46
Thomas Belcher, son, age 17, Railway Clerk
Mary J. Belcher, daughter, aged 13
Dorothy Belcher, daughter, aged 7

On 22nd March 1910 Thomas Belcher sailed from Liverpool, England to Halifax, St John, New Brunswick, Canada on the Grampian.  On the ship’s passenger manifesto he was listed as 25 years of age with his final destination in Canada as Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan where he intended to take employment as a farm labourer.

Thomas enlisted in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force on 4th January 1916 at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada.  On his attestation form he gave his date of birth as 25th March 1884 in Ryall, Upton on Severn, Worcestershire, his next of kin as his father, Solomon Belcher, Ryall, Upton on Severn, Worcestershire and his occupation as a farmer. At the time of his attestation he was resident at 43 River St W., Moose Jaw.  Thomas was 5 feet 9 inches tall with hazel eyes, dark brown hair and a dark complexion.

On 15th August 1916 Thomas sailed from Halifax, Canada with his unit on the S.S. Grampian, arriving in Liverpool, England on 24th August 1916.  He was transferred from the 128th Battalion to the 28th Battalion on 5th December 1916 and embarked for France where he arrived on 6th December 1916.  He was admitted to No 7 Canadian Stationary Hospital at Harve on 10th December 1916 suffering from influenza and was discharged 6 days later on 19th December 1916.  He rejoined his unit in the field on 2nd January 1917. Thomas was posted missing believed killed on 8th May 1917.

National Archives of Canada Reference: RG150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 602 – 26.

The Canada War Graves Registers (Circumstances of Casualty) records the following information on Private Thomas Belcher, 781632:
“Previously reported missing, believed killed, now for official purposes presumed to have died.”  Location of unit at time of casualty: Acheville Sector

The Canada Commonwealth War Graves Registers record the following information on Private Thomas Belcher, 781632:
“Previously reported missing, believed killed, now for official purposes presumed to have died on or since 8th May 1917”.  Place of Burial: Vimy Memorial.

Appears in the Worcester/Worcestershire Roll of Honour Book for army casualties located in Worcester Cathedral.

Tom Belcher has no known grave, the photograph available shows his name on Vimy Memorial.