Home Events Soldier – Kilner, Thomas Henry – Killed with CSM

Soldier – Kilner, Thomas Henry – Killed with CSM

May 1917

Mexborough and Swinton Times May 5, 1917

Sergeant Thomas Henry Kilner
(York and Lancs)

of Main Street Goldthorpe was killed on April 24.

He enlisted soon after the war broke out and have been in France nearly 2 years. He was well known in Goldthorpe and has been a fine type of soldier.

His father received the following letter of sympathy from Second Lieutenant P Jennison:

It is with much regret that I have to break the news to you of your son’s death. He was killed last night, at 11.35. He was with his company Sergeant Major who was also killed. They were patrolling the trench, when they were surprised by a party of Germans. It was shot through the head and died instantaneously.

We miss him very much, for he was always cheerful, merry and bright, and was also a good NCO and a hard worker. No task was ever too much for him. He lost his life in attempting to close with the party after the Sergeant Major had been hit. All my fellow officers and NCOs and men join within in expressing my deepest sympathies, which though they seem to you to be small, it is our utmost we can send.

He will have a decent Christian burial tomorrow, when I hope to be able to obtain permission for some of his comrades to be present.

I have all his personal belongings, in safe custody, and will send them to you in a parcel shortly after you receive this. If there is anything I can help you with I shall only be too pleased to do so.

Also a letter has been received from Second Lieutenant M Broad:

“As my company commander will have told you about the very sad death of your son, who had been in my platoon’s Sgt for the last two months, I thought you would be interested to know some details of his funeral. This took place on the 24th in the cemetery behind the firing line. It was attended by all his company officers and the hall company, in addition to several sergeants from other companies, were known him and were proud to be considered his friends.

He lies by the side of his Company Sergeant Major, who was killed at the same time.

In conclusion, I would like to tell you how much I esteemed your son as an excellent sergeant in the most fearless man.”