Private 41820 Thomas Bayliss

Killed in Action on Monday, 15th July 1918, age 21.
Commemorated on Panel 11 to 14 and 162 of Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

17th Bn., Royal Scots. 106th Brigade of 35th Division.
Formerly 333615 10th Entrenching Battalion.

Son of Harry and Elizabeth Bayliss, of 70, Bloomfield Rd., Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Tipton, 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.

Not commemorated on any Tipton memorial.
Commemorated here because identified as Tipton on 'Soldiers Died in the Great War'.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/844380/

Genealogical Data

Birth of Thomas Bayliss registered September quarter 1897 in Dudley.

1901 Census
25 Park Street South, Wolverhampton, Staffs.
Harry Bayliss (27, Carter, born Tipton), his wife Elizabeth (26, born Tipton), and their 2 children: Thomas (3, born Tipton), and Kate (1, born Wolverhampton).

1911 Census
70 Bloomfield Road, Tipton, Staffs.
Harry Bayliss (37, Carter, born Tipton), his wife Elizabeth (36, born Tipton), and their 3 children: Thomas (13, born Tipton), Kate (11, born Wolverhampton), and Harry (9, born Wolverhampton).

Personal Data

The 17th Battalion Royal Scots was initially a Bantam Battalion for men less than the 5' 3'' required for other infantry Battalions. By the end of 1916 the quality of Bantam replacements became sub-standard; in common with the other Bantam Battalions, replacements from then on were average conscripts. As Thomas Bayliss died in 1918, it cannot be assumed that he was a Bantam by height.

After Thomas's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £6/9/1d (6 pounds, 9 shillings and 1 penny) was paid to his mother and sole legatee, Elizabeth, in October 1918. His War Gratuity was £8/0/0d (8 pounds exactly), this was also paid to his mother in December 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that Thomas had enlisted in approximately October 1916.

Action resulting in his death

At the very end of June 1918, the 35th Division, including the 17th Royal Scots, moved from the Somme sector to the Ypres sector. The 17th Royal Scots were located on the French-Belgian border near Westouter, 5 miles east of Kemmel.

On the night of 14th/15th July, the neighbouring 18th Lancashire Fusiliers launched an offensive raid which was ultimately unsuccessful. The increase in German artillery during the 15th July was considered a reprisal for that raid.

Thomas Bayliss was killed in action on the 15th July, possibly as a result of the German bombardments. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Newspaper Cuttings

Birmingham Daily Post 20th August 1918
RANK AND FILE: MIDLANDS MEN.
KILLED.
Royal Scots, Bayliss, 41820, T., (Tipton).