Nat Gould

Thomas Wagstaff 1888-1916

Thomas Wagstaff was born in 1888 at Fenny Bentley in Derbyshire, the son of James Wagstaff and his wife nee Charlotte Bowler Botham.

He enlisted in the army in April 1906 at Ashbourne in Derbyshire, joining the 2nd Battalion of the Notts & Derby Regiment (the Sherwood Foresters).

In 1911 Private Thomas Wagstaff 43726 was serving with the Sherwood Foresters stationed at Crownhill Barracks at Plympton in Devon. He was a reservist when the First World War broke out.

He rejoined his regiment on 6 August 1914, and landed in France on 7 September 1914.

He fought in the Battle of the Aisne, where he was wounded in both thighs.

He was injured three times during his twenty-seven months of active service with the Sherwood Foresters, before being transferred to the Norfolk Regiment on 15 July 1916.

He attained the rank of Acting Sergeant with the 7th Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment. He was reported missing, and was last seen leading his men "with great courage and skill in the attack" (1).

Thomas Wagstaff was killed in action on 12 October 1916. He was 27 years of age.

Sergeant Thomas Wagstaff was buried in the Beaulencourt British Cemetery at Ligny-Thilloy in the Department of Pas-de-Calais, France (2).

His name is recorded on a marble plaque in the south aisle of Fenny Bentley village church.

(1) Ashbourne News 22 December 1916 and 5 May 1916. The report in the latter issue records that before joining the army Sergeant Thomas Wagstaff was employed in Brassington.
(2) Derbyshire War Memorials http://derbyshirewarmemorials.wikispaces.com/THOMAS+WAGSTAFF