Ref ID: 5705
Name
Thomas Easton.
Description
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Certificate relating to Rifleman Thomas Easton.
Life Story
Name: Thomas Easton.
Service Number: 5634.
Rank: Rifleman.
Battalion: 2nd Battalion.
Regiment: Royal Irish Rifles.
Born: 5th June 1879, Belfast.
Died: 27th October 1914.
Address: 60 Belgrave Street, Belfast
.
Thomas Easton, son of William and Sarah Easton, lived with his wife at 60 Belgrave Street, Shankill Road, Belfast
.
The 1911 Ireland Census has Thomas living at 34 Warwick Street, Belfast with his mother, father, occupation, General Labourer, brother Samuel, 36 years, General Labourer, and niece Mary, 7 years. Thomas occupation at this time is given as General Labourer
.
Thomas had married Margaret Ellen Easton, Nee Watters, on the 12th of July 1912 within St Annes Church Belfast
.
Thomas signed the Ulster Covenant on the 28th of September 1912, Ulster Day, within the Old Town Hall, Belfast
.
Thomas joined the Royal Irish Rifles on the 30th August 1898.
On the 7th of June 1899 he was posted in Sheffield.
He then embarked aboard the S.S Sicilia on the 15th of March 1901 to Spain.
On the 17th of April 1901 he arrived in Calcutta.
Thomas then served throughout India, in Fyzabad, 6th of Feb 1901, Fatehgarh, 11th of April 1902, back again to Fyzabad on the 28th of October 1902, and extending her Service Period to the 29th of March 1904 while here, and on to Kasauli and then Meerut.
He was Transferred to Army Reserves on the 30th October 1907.
On the 30th July 1911 Thomas Reengaged the Army Reserves.
Thomas was then Mobilized in Belfast on the 5th of August 1914.
He was posted as part of the British Expeditionary Force to France on the 31st of August 1914.
Thomas was a Rifleman in 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles when he was Killed In Action on the 27th October 1914 in France, aged 35 years
.
A local newspaper states.
RANK AND FILE LOSSES.
Rifleman Thomas Easton, 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, who was reported missing on October 27th, 1914, is now officially returned as having been killed on that date. Deceased was a reservist, a prior to being called up was employed by Messrs, Isaac Andrews at the docks. His wife resides at 60 Belgrave Street, Belfast
.
Thomas Service Records are hard to read, understand, throughout, however you see that he was court marshalled and convicted of desertion twice.
He is wrote up as having went missing on the 2nd of March 1899, something that got him mentioned in The Police Gazette on the 14th March 1899, before being returned on the 1st of May 1899. For this he received 28 days Jail Hard Labourer.
He was then Returned to Duty on the 7th of June 1899.
Thomas is then wrote up as having went missing on the 6th of July 1899, and is then returned on the 5th of October 1899. For this he received 84 days Jail with Hard Labourer.
His documents are at this stage faded and unreadable, however after a gap and at the bottom, they read that he was appointed Lance Corporal on the 8th of November 1902, before being reverted back to Private on the 18th of March 1903 for Misconduct.
Thomas was also court marshalled for a number of things, trying to buy a bottle of Whisky in the Sergeants Mess earned him 10 days Confinement To Barracks.
He was also fined for being drunk and loitering around the Married Quarters.
His records though to state that he had no further incidents within the last three years of his service and even show his character thereafter as Good
.
A letter sent by Thomas wife Margaret asking for the details concerning what hospital her husband is within is among his records also. In reply she is told that he is in fact to be taken as missing
.
Thomas Soldiers Effects were left to his widow Margaret.
A Pension Application Form shows his mother Sarah as claimant.
Dependant Pension Application Forms show both his widow Margaret and mother Sarah as claimants
.
See brother also: 9258 Rifleman Samuel Easton 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
.
Thomas received the British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1914 Star.
He is Remembered at Le Touret Memorial, France.
To Remember Is To Honour
.
Theme
Shankill Roll of Honour
Date
0
Classification
Book or Journal,
Certificate/Permit,
Roll of Honour or Memorial
