TOMS, Randle Harry

Randle Harry Toms was the son of John and Fanny Toms of 6 Farlands Road, Oldswinford. He attended Oldswinford C of E School and volunteered for the Worcester Territorials. He joined the 1/7th Battalion in the 48th Division which had seen much front line service since it had arrived in March 1915. Its greatest test had been the long battle of the Somme from July to November 1916 and several Stourbridge men were killed in the course of this battle. In the Spring of 1917 the battalion left the Somme to prepare for the Third Battle of Ypres which opened on the 31st July. The battalion's first action was on the 16th August when they were in the front line for the battle of Langemarck. On that day, however, their attack failed because of the German concrete block-houses and fortified farms. However, with the help of tanks the 1/7th were at last successful in taking the fortress-like Maison du Hibou on the 20th August. They returned for the battle of Poelcapelle but the weather was again appalling. It took some platoons 14 hours to struggle to the front line in time for the dawn attack of the 9th October. With great difficulty they reached the German block houses, and with casualties of 10 officers and 212 men, another 500 yards of Flanders mud had been won. Private Harry Toms was one of the 54 men killed in action. He was 22 years of age and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot, Stourbridge, Oldswinford church and Oldswinford C of E School Memorials.