Thomas William Morley

Thomas William was the husband of Hannah Finch (née Harrington, born 10th February 1889), whom he had married in Nottingham in 1907, and the father of Evelyn Drusilla Morley born 27th December 1909 in Radford and Hannah born 28th September 1914 Nottingham. In 1911 they lived at 12 Auckland Street, Radford, Nottingham and shown as Thomas Wiliam 24 yrs a confectioner, his wife Hannah 24 yrs and their daughter Evelyn 1 year. Also in the household was Mabel Finch 20 yrs, Thomas' sister-in-law, who was a wire worker. Their second daughter, Hannah was born three years later in 1914. The family later lived at 49 Mitchell Street, Radford, Nottingham, and this is also the address given on the CWGC record. His widow was awarded a pension of 18 shillings and 6 pence a week, first paid on 26th February 1917. Hannah Morley married Richard Leavesley in 1918 (A/M/J Nottingham); they had a daughter Louise b. 4 September 1918. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, Hannah and Richard Leavesley (b. 6 January 1886), an electrical jointer's labourer, were living in Forest Grove, Nottingham, with Evelyn a clerk for a food distributor, Hannah (later Coward) an overlocker/machinist and Louise (later Richmond) a tobacco stripper. Hannah Leavesley (formerly Morley) died in 1981 (A/M/J Nottingham).

He was a confectioner in the 1911 census.

Gunner Thomas William Morley, enlisted in Nottingham and served with the 25th Divisional Ammunition Column. He served in France from 26th September 1915, he was killed accidentally the following year on 5th August 1916. He is buried in Bouzincourt Communal Cemetery Extension. He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal

29 August 1916: ‘Morley. Accidentally killed while in action, August 5th, Gunner Thomas W Morley, RFA, 49, Mitchell-street. He bravely answered duty’s call. Sorrowing wife, children and family.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) 'In memoriam' notice published 6th August 1919 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “MORLEY. – In remembrance of Thomas William Morley, killed in France, August 6th, 1916. – Wife and children.” (Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Smal Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918) Two of his brothers-in-law were also killed in the war: Sgt. David Finch, 2nd Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment, was killed in action on 13th September 1916. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission gives his date of death as 16th September 1916. However, it is more likely that the date given by the family is correct – the war diary supports this. Sgt. Samuel Finch, 2nd Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment, was killed in action at Hooge on 9th August 1915. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate. 'In memoriam' notice published 24th October 1916 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “FlNCH. — Killed in action. September 13th, 1916. Sergeant David Finch, Sherwood Foresters, of 28, Auckland-street, Radford, brother of Sergeant Samuel Finch, killed in action, August, 9th, 1915, also brother-in-law of Gunner Thomas W. Morley, 49, Mitchell-street, killed in action, August 5th, 1916. In a far and lonely battlefield, where the trees their branches bend, lie our loved ones, gone to their untimely end. Silently the shades of evening gather round our lonely door, silently they bring before us faces we shall see no more. Duty nobly done. — Broken-hearted mother, soldier brother Jack, & sisters.” Notice courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Smal Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918