Memorials & Monuments
on the Isle of Wight
- Biography -
- Roland Thomas -

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, February 25, 1916 Page 4

Mr. Tom Thomas passed the doctor on Tuesday, and was duly sworn in. He will do barrack duty at Parkhurst. Mr. Thomas has six sons in H.M. Forces. Mr. E.W. Wright, who was invalided from the Army, and Mr. W. Pressey, an employee of the town, have also joined for barrack duty.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, June 1, 1917 Page 1

News was received this week that the ship on which Mr. John Thomas, aged 24, and the third son of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Thomas, formerly of Ventnor, was serving, had been sunk, and that fears were entertained for the safety of the officers and men. The information naturally caused great anxiety to the family and their relatives. On Tuesday, however, a wire was received from the Admiralty stating that Mr. Thomas had been picked up at sea and was well. Mr. Thomas was a very fine swimmer, and this no doubt stood him in good stead during this unfortunate experience. He has five other brothers [*] serving King and Country.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, August 17, 1917 Page 1

Rifleman W. Downer and Rifleman Tom Thomas, of Ventnor, have been home on draft leave preparatory to taking up duty with a Labour Battalion at the front. Rifleman Downer is 46 and Rifleman Thomas 55 years of age. They were originally classed C3 for home service, but have now been placed in a higher category.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, October 5, 1917 Page 2

Sergt. Major Percy Thomas, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Thomas, formerly of Ventnor, has been gazetted Second Lieut.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, December 6, 1918 Page 3

Obituary.
ROLAND THOMAS.
It is reported that Roland Thomas, son of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Thomas, formerly of Ventnor, has died of disease at Aden. Before enlisting he was a butcher's assistant at Mr. Burt's.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, December 13, 1918 Page 2

IN MEMORIAM
THOMAS. - In loving memory of Roland, the beloved son of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Thomas, late of Ventnor, who died at Aden November 24th, 1918, aged 24 years. - Deeply mourned.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, January 10, 1919 Page 3

VENTNORIAN'S DEATH.
To the Editor.
DEAR SIR, - As a Ventnorian, I regret to inform you of the death on November 26th at Aden, from influenza of Pte. Roland Thomas, of this regiment (son of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Thomas, late of Ventnor). Pte. Thomas was formerly in the Isle of Wight Rifles, being one of a large number of us that was transferred in 1916 from the Rifles to the 7th Hants. He served in this regiment in India until January, 1918, when we came on active service to the Aden hinterland, where, until the cessation of hostilities recently, we have been opposed to the Turks and Arabs in the Arabian Desert. Latterly he was attached to a Machine Gun Company "somewhere in the desert." Here, he contracted influenza and was sent back into Aden, where he died in the station hospital. He was buried with military honours, and was followed by a large number of friends, including several Ventnorians, and many ex-Riflemen. He was very popular and will be very much missed by his comrades. Previous to the war he was employed at Mr. Burt's butcher's shop in High Street, and also at Messrs. Flux and Sons.

I am sir,
Yours truly,
HUGH PRICE URRY

1/7th Hants
Aden Field Force,
December 2nd, 1918

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, November 28, 1919 Page 2

IN MEMORIAM
THOMAS. - To the memory of Pte. R. Thomas (Boy), 1/7th Hants Regt., who died at Aden, November 26th, 1918.