Private 22517 Thomas Dean

Died on Tuesday, 18th July 1916, age unknown.
Commemorated on Pier and Face 10 B 11 B and 12 B of Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

13th Bn., Northumberland Fusiliers. 62nd Brigade of 21st Division.

Husband of Mrs Eva Dean.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Darlaston, Resident: Unknown.

First landed France & Flanders, post 31st December 1915.
Medal entitlement: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Commemorated on the St. Mark's Memorial.
Commemorated here because he appears on a Tipton memorial.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/756411/

Genealogical Data

1901 Census
154 Toll End Road, Tipton, Staffs.
Thomas Dean (47, Iron Worker in Forge, born West Bromwich), his wife Ann M. (46, born West Bromwich), and their 3 children: John W. (23, Plater's Helper in Bridge Works, born Tipton), Thomas (19, Warehouseman, born Tipton), and Lizzie (15, Grocer's Assistant, born Tipton).

1911 Census
47 Horseley Road, Tipton, Staffs.
Thomas Dean (29, Warehouseman, born Tipton), his wife Eva (28, born West Bromwich), and their son John William (4, born Tipton).

Personal Data

None Available.

Action resulting in his death

The 38th (Welsh) Division fought to take Mametz Wood between the 10th and 12th July 1916, and the wood was effectively cleared of the enemy. On the 12th July they were relieved by the 13th Northumberland Fusiliers who held the northern part of Mametz Wood until they were in turn relieved on the 18th July. On the 12th July, the 13th Northumberlands pushed forward and cleared the Germans from their last slight hold on Mametz Wood. For the remainder of their period in the front line, they held the line at the north edge of Mametz Wood, having to repel a counter-attack and withstand German shelling including gas shells.

During this period the 13th Northumberlands had 50 men killed, 34 of them on the 18th July, the day of their relief. As the relief was at 3.00am, it is likely that the figure of 34 men killed includes casualties from previous days who had not been accounted for earlier.

Terry Dean is recorded as having 'Died' which normally means illness or accident, but given the scale of losses on the 18th July I am inclined to think this an error and that he was killed in action. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

Newspaper Cuttings

None.