READ (Reid), Thomas

Thomas Reid was the son of Jesse and Maria Reid of Langley Green and was married to Ida, later of Bookham, Surrey. He was a regular soldier in the Worcesters, serving in the 3rd Battalion. They mobilised and crossed to France on the 12th August and travelled to Belgium to halt the German advance. They fought at Mons and then endured the gruelling Retreat of 150 miles in 10 days. The enemy advance, however, was halted on the Marne and a British return to the Aisne was achieved. The fighting turned into short but sharp contests on the wooded hillsides of the river and Private Thomas Reid was seriously wounded. He was sent to the base hospital at St Nazaire, possibly en route for England but died there on the 27th September. He was 27 years of age and is buried in St. Nazaire (Toutes Aides) Cemetery (B 33) and commemorated on the Blackheath and Halesowen Memorials.