BANES, Thomas Edward

Thomas Banes was the son of Benjamin and Sarah Banes of 2 John Street, Netherton, Dudley. He was probably a pre-war regular soldier in the Worcesters and in 1914 would have been in the 2nd Battalion at Aldershot as part of the British Expeditionary Force. They mobilized on the declaration of war and crossed to France on the 12th August. The Worcesters advanced to Mons and then retreated to the Marne. They assisted in the recovery in September and fought in the Battle of the Aisne and in the Artois battles around Armenti?res. In the Spring of 1915 they were in the same area when an offensive to help the hard-pressed French was ordered. The Worcesters assisted in the attack at Festubert on the 16th May. The terrain was flat, the ground low-lying and the enemy well dug in. It was a night attack requiring precision but the weather was wet and conditions were difficult. At 11.15 the Worcesters left their trenches but German flares made them obvious targets. The losses were heavy and included Private Thomas Banes. He was 21 years of age and is commemorated on the Le Touret and Dudley Memorials.