Private 3/19671 Thomas Flukes
Died Home on Thursday, 31st May 1917, age 31.
Buried in Grave "C". 33. at Tipton Cemetery, Staffordshire, United Kingdom.
3rd Bn., South Wales Borderers.
Husband of Mrs Ellen Flukes,of 6 Albion Place, New Road, Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Great Bridge, Enlisted: Wolverhampton, Resident: Tipton.
Never served abroad.
Medal entitlement: No medal entitlement.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives survived and transcribed.
Commemorated on the Tipton Library Memorial.
Commemorated here because he appears on a Tipton memorial.
Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: Not Yet Commemorated by CWGC.
Genealogical Data
Birth of Thomas Flukes registered March 1886 in Dudley. He was born on January 22nd 1886, and baptised on February 2nd 1886 at Toll End Primitive Methodist Church.
1891 Census
1 Court 1 House, Eagle Passage, Tipton, Staffs.
Sarah Flukes (30, Head, born Bilston), and her 4 children: William T. (13, born Bilston), Albert Henry (11, Scholar, born Bilston), Thomas (5, Scholar, born Great Bridge), John (9 months, born Great Bridge).
Sarah's husband, Thomas Flukes, had died in early 1891. Sarah married Thomas Ingram in June quarter 1892.
1901 Census
1 Court 1 House, Eagle Passage, Tipton, Staffs.
Thomas Ingram (30, Forge Labourer, born Tipton), his wife Sarah (40, born Bilston), Sarah's 4 children: William Flukes (23, Coal Miner - Loader, born Bilston), Frank Flukes (18, Iron Mill Labourer, born West Bromwich), Thomas Flukes (15, Iron Tube Screwer, born Tipton), John Flukes (10, born Tipton); and Thomas and Sarah's 2 children: Sarah J. Ingram (8, born Tipton), and Lily Ingram (6, born Tipton).
1911 Census
13 Eagle Square, Tipton, Staffs.
Thomas Ingram (39, Labourer, born Tipton), his wife Sarah (50, born Bilston), and Sarah's 2 surviving children of 6: Thomas Flukes (25, Labourer at Tube Works, born Tipton), John Flukes (21, Labourer at Tube Works, born Tipton).
Marriage of Thomas Flukes and Ellen Barfoot registered March quarter 1912 in Dudley.
Birth of Thomas Flukes (Mother's maiden name Barfoot) registered December quarter 1912 in Dudley; Thomas jnr died 28th August 1915.
Death of Thomas Flukes (age 31) registered June quarter 1917 in Dudley.
Personal Data
Thomas is not recorded on the Commonwealth War Graves at the moment, this is because he died after being discharged and the Imperial War Graves Commission were never informed. His case is to be forwarded to the CWGC for consideration. He was only found as his Pension Papers exist.
Thomas enlisted as Private 3/19671, 3rd Bn. South Wales Borderers, on 1st May 1915 in Wolverhampton. He was 5 feet 1½ inches tall with a 35-inch chest and a 2-inch expansion, weighed 115 pounds, apparently with good physical development. He was 29 years old, and employed as a Tube Worker. He married Ellen Barfoot on 12th January 1912 and they lived at 6 Albion Place, New Road, Tipton. They had 2 children: Thomas and Horace James, both their lives were tragically short. Thomas was born 4th November 1912 but died on 28th August 1915, aged 2 years. On that same day, 28th August 1915, Horace James was born, but he died during March quarter 1916 at less than 1 year old.
On 25th September 1915, after a stay at Seaforth Hospital, near Liverpool, it was reported: "He has had chronic bronchitis for some years. There is also suspicion of Phstisis. There is every possibility that his stay in the Army will render his condition worse." Added later:- "T.B. found in sputum". On 10th November 1915 he was discharged as "not likely to become an efficient soldier."
Eighteen months later, on 30th May 1917, Thomas died. His Deah Certificate says "Tuberculosis of the lung". Thomas was 31 years old and lived at 13 Wellington Place, New Road, Tipton. He was buried in Tipton Cemetery on 3rd June 1917.
Between August 1915 and May 1917, Mrs Flukes had lost her two infant sons and her husband.
On 26th July 1917, the Pensions Department wrote "I am directed by the Minister of Pensions to inform you that the death of this man is regarded as due to disease contracted or commencing on active service. Mrs Flukes was therefore to receive a pension." Mrs Flukes was awarded a Widow's Pension of 13/9d (13 shillings and 9 pence) per week, backdated to the date of Thomas's death.
The marriage of Thomas's widow, Mrs Ellen Flukes, and James Frowen was registered December quarter 1918 in Dudley. After her re-marriage Ellen's Widow's Pension would have ceased, and be compensated by a lum sum payment generally equivalent to one year's pension payments. Ellen's bad luck continued, and she was to become Mrs Walker in 1929, Mrs Hawkes in 1939, and finally Mrs Jones in 1946.
Action resulting in his death
Thomas never served abroad, and died at home 18 months after he had been discharged.
Newspaper Cuttings
None.