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L/Cpl. Thomas Monk
British Army 1st/6th Battalion Duke of Wellingtons West Riding Regiment
from:Settle, Yorkshire
(d.15th Sep 1916)
Thomas Monk was born in Settle in 1897 to his parents Thomas and Lavinia Monk. He continued to live in Settle until he went overseas. At the age of 13 he worked as a Quarryman at the Delaney Horton Limestone works close by. In May 1913 he joined the 6th Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment (a Territorial Battalion). He served with them through to 1915 when in April he and his Battalion crossed to France as part of the 147th (2nd West Riding) Brigade within the 49th (West Riding) Division.
He served through the Battles of Aubers Ridge in May 1915 as well as the Defence against the Phosgene Attack on 19th/20th December 1915. He was injured (gassed) during this attack and was taken to No.12 CCS at Hazebrouck and then on to the St. John Ambulance Base Hospital at Etaples. From there he was returned to a hospital in the U.K. Before he returned to France in June 1916 he married a young lady named Lilly Watson at Settle.
He returned to his Battalion at Forceville. From there the Battalion moved up to the Front near Authuille to the Support Trenches arriving in the early hours of July 1st. The Battalion did not participate in the first days fighting but took part in the subsequent Battle of Albert, Battle of Bazentin Ridge and Battle of Flers - Courcelette. On 14th September the Battalion was called to the Front lines near Leipzig Salient to relieve the 32nd Infantry Brigade. Just as the relief started the Germans made a bombing attack on the line. D Company was sent in to reinforce the line but Thomas was killed by shrapnel just after 09.10 hours on the 15th. He is buried at Blight Valley CWGC Cemetery at Authuille Wood.
