LISSIMORE, Thomas James J.T

Thomas Lissimore was the son of Noah and Phoebe Lissimore. He came from West Bromwich but was living in Dudley when he enlisted as a pre-war regular soldier in the Worcesters. His wife was Alice of 2 Back 102 George Street, Brookfields, Birmingham. He was serving in the 2nd Battalion in the British Expeditionary Force at Aldershot when war broke out. They mobilized immediately and crossed to France on the 12th August. They reached Mons by the 23rd August and were forced south by the overwhelming numbers of the German forces. The 10 day 150 mile retreat was arduous but on the 6th September there was no shelling after mid-day and it was clear that German withdrawal had begun. A decisive battle had been won. On the 7th the Worcesters advanced and the German retreat had begun. The bridge over the Vesle at Courcelles had been blown up, but a girder was enough for the Worcesters to cross and in pouring rain on the 12th they reached the Aisne, where it was apparent that the Germans intended to stay. The battalion moved through Pont Arcy and eventually crossed the river somewhat perilously, but without loss. The next day they led the advance of the Brigade through Moussy towards Braye and found the enemy entrenched in the woods. A vigorous exchange took place with losses on both sides. After a single rest day the battalion returned late on the 17th to dig some of the first trenches for protection against the enemy shelling. On the 19th a heavy barrage started and the next day the German infantry pressed strongly down the wooded valleys. Two companies of the Worcesters were ordered to halt one of the attacks. They succeeded but then advanced into open ground, only to be met with accurate fire. All the officers were casualties and six men were killed. One of these was Private Thomas Lissimore. He was 28 years of age and is commemorated on La Fert?-sous-Jouarre Memorial and on the Dudley, St John's, Kates Hill and Worcester Cathedral 1914 Memorials.