GRIFFITHS, Tom

Tom Griffiths was the son of Ruth Griffiths of Blackheath. He served originally in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment but by 1917, probably on return from injury, had been transferred to the 12th Battalion of the Hampshires. They left England in 1915 to serve in the Macedonia campaign. Their base was Greek Salonika but most of the action against Bulgaria took place around Lake Doiran. The deadlock of trench warfare continued until April 1917 when the Allies planned a major advance. The battle of Doiran took place among ravines and woods which made any advance difficult. The battle was a failure and the losses included Private Tom Griffiths who was killed in action on the 24th April. He was 27 years of age and is commemorated on the Doiran, Blackheath and Halesowen Memorials.