Lieut.-Colonel Charles William THOMAS, C.B.E., T.D.
Commanded the 3/7th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment from April 1915 to September 1916
Charles William Thomas was born at Halifax on the 18th November 1866, son of John William Thomas and Elizabeth Thomas (nee Pearson). His mother was a daughter of the Pearson family whose family business (Messrs. E. J. and J. Pearson, Limited) at Stourbridge producing firebricks and fireclay goods and his father had worked for that business since 1872 and later became the Managing Director of that company. Charles was educated at King Edward VI School, Stourbridge and The Leys School, Cambridge. From his youth he was always interested in soldiering and decided to join a Volunteer Regiment. He was commissioned in to the 1st Volunteer Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment on the 8th December 1888 with the rank of Second Lieutenant. Promoted to Captain on the 5th August 1893. He married Alice Maud Green at Stourbridge, Staffordshire in 1894. In 1895 they had a son Charles Arthur Geoffrey Thomas. On the death of his father John William Thomas in 1902, he succeeded him as Managing Director of Messrs. E. J. and J. Pearson, Limited, Stourbridge. He stayed with this company throughout his life and in his later years in the 1940's he bacame Chairman. On the 1st April 1908 the 1st Volunteer Battalion was re-designation to be the 7th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment (Territorial Army) and he then became a Captain in the 7th Battalion. He was promoted to Major on the 30th June 1909 and on the 4th January 1910 he received the Territorial Decoration. |
Lieut.-Col. C. W. Thomas |
He commanded the 3/7th (Reserve) Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment during the 1914-18 war.
Promoted to substantive rank of Lieut.-Colonel on the 3rd November 1916 as part of the Territorial Force Reserve.
On the 14th June 1916 he was given the temporary rank of Lieut.-Colonel and reliquished that rank on the 31st August 1916.
On the 2nd January 1950 he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (C.B.E.)
His wife died in 1954, soon after Colonel Thomas and she had celebrated their Diamond Wedding.
Colonel Charles William Thomas, died on 18th January 1963 at his home, Clifton House, Oldswinford, near Stourbridge at the age of 96. He has been blind for the past 5 years before his death. His last public appearance was when the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh visited the Council House, Stourbridge in 1957.
His funeral took place privately on 22nd January 1963, followed on 23rd January by a Memorial Service at St. Mary's Church. Oldswinford. conducted by the Rector, The Venerable A. V. Hurley, C.B.E.. T.D.
The Worcestershire Regiment was represented by Colonel E. R. W. Tooby (also representing the Colonel of The Worcestershire Regiment and the Honorary Colonel of the 7th Battalion), Major J. W. Bannister, representing the Commanding Officer and officers, 7th Battalion. The Worcestershire Regiment (T.A.), Major A A. Graham, representing the Worcestershire Rifle Association, and Superintendent G. V. Sedgwick, representing the 8th Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment (T.A.).