Private Thomas Alfred Bush
2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment.
Killed in Action
Date of Birth: 1894
Place of Birth: Salisbury, Wiltshire
Date of Death: 13 August 1918 aged 22
Buried: Roisel Community Cemetery Extension, Somme; remembered on Seafront Memorial and St. James' Church Memorial Window, Teignmouth, Devon
Awarded the 1914 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal
Private Thomas Alfred Anthony Bush age 22.
Born in Salisbury in 1894 and baptised at St. Martin's Church, Salisbury, on 5 July 1894. He was the eldest son of Thomas, a stableman, and Ada Bush. His birth and baptism were registered as Alfred Tom Bush. In 1901 Thomas was shown with his parents visiting Scott's Court, Salisbury. In the 1911 census he was shown living in and working as a servant retailing milk for Thomas Pile, dairyman, of 3 Teign Street; on this census he lists himself as Thomas Alfred Anthony. Prior to joining up he worked as a bathing attendant on the beach. He was listed at 3 Teign Street on the absent voters' list for 1918/19.
Thomas must have previously joined the Devon Territorials having enlisted at Exeter. His medal card shows him as Thomas A and that he arrived in France on 22 August 1914 with 1st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, service number 9808. Having served throughout the war, he was serving with 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, when he was apparently taken prisoner in March 1918 during the German Spring Offensive.
His personal effects record shows that he was killed by a bomb on 13 August 1918. Originally buried by the German Army, in 1925 he was believed to be buried in Roisel Community Cemetery Extension, Somme; remembered on Seafront Memorial and St. James' Church Memorial Window, Teignmouth, Devon..
"Mr T J Pile of Teign Street received pc from Pte T A Bush 9808 Light Trench Mortar Battery att 2nd Devons is POW in Germany at Limburg. Former employee of Mr Pile." 26 April 1918 - Teignmouth Post.
Although his parents remained in Salisbury, the only remembrance for Thomas came from his old employer, Thomas Pile.
The 2nd Battalion of the The Devonshire Regiment fought on the Western Front in France throughout most of the First World War. Having survived the Somme and Ypres, Thomas died just two months before the Armistice.
