538340 Sapper Thomas George Woolston, R.E.

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Edward De Santis, MSCE, BSAE P.E., MinstRE
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(April 2025)

This research was inspired by the two photographs above. The photograph of Sapper Thomas George Woolston was found on the Imperial War Museum Lives of the First World War web site. The photograph of Private Samuel David Woolston was found in a Woolston family tree on Ancestry.com while searching for information about Thomas.

Thomas George Woolston was born in Brighton, Sussex on 22 April 1881. He was the son of John Robert Woolston (1844-1885) and Emma Bishop Woolston, née Mitchell (1851-1914). His brother Samuel was born in Brighton in 1885. Their father died in 1885 and their mother married Charles Meredith in Steyning, Sussex in 1888.[1]

The 1891 Census of England shows the youngsters living as step-sons in the home of Charles Meredith at 73 Rose Hill Terrace in Brighton. Charles Meredith was a Royal Pavillion Attendant and he had five additional children from a previous marriage.

Figure 3. The Meredith Home at 73 Rose Hill Terrace in Brighton, c. 2025.
(Image courtesy of Google Earth)

By 1901 young Thomas had become a rural postman. He was living as a boarder in the home of one George and Alice Turner and their son and daughter at 69 Bonchurch Road in Keymer, Sussex .[2] Samuel remained with the Meredith family in Brighton.

Figure 4. The Turner Residence at 69 Bonchurch Road in Keymer, c. 2025
(Image courtesy of Google Earth)

As a young man, Thomas continued to work in the post office, and on 15 August 1904 he married Fanny Brooker (1880-1952), a spinster from Keymer and the daughter of George Brooker, a gardener. The couple were married in the Parish Church of Keymer, St. Cosmas and St. Damian.[3] Their first child, Dorothy Frances Woolston (1906-1988) was born in Keymer on 3 May 1906.[4]

By 2 April 1911, the date of the Census of England and Wales, the family had moved to Hassocks, Sussex as shown in the table below.

The Woolston’s second child, Phyllis Maisie Woolston (1914-1953) was born in Cuckfield, Sussex on 17 May 1914.

The Great War began not long after the birth of Phyllis, and in February 1915 at the age of almost 34, Thomas Woolston decided to enlist in the Army. His brother Samuel had already enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps.

The following is a description of Thomas George Woolston at the time of his enlistment in the Royal Engineers in February 1915.

The above description of Thomas Woolston was made on 16 February 1915 at the time of a medical examination performed to determine his fitness to serve in the Royal Engineers Territorial Force (T.F.). He was determined to be physically fit. On this same date he was tested by a civilian tradesman at Brighton and was rated a “Fair” Telegraphist. This trade made him a prime candidate for service in the Royal Engineers Signal Service.

Woolston enlisted on 24 February 1915 in the 3^rd Home Counties Divisional Signal Company, R.E. (T.F.) for a period of four years. This was a third line unit intended for home defense. He attested for service at Brighton on this date and indicated that his address was 1 Brookside Villas in Hassocks, Sussex. He indicated that he had no prior military or naval service. His Attestation was certified on this date by 2^nd Lieutenant Alan Arthur Saunders, R.E. (T.F.) and a Certificate of Primary Military Examination was issued finding Woolston fit for service in the company. He was embodied in the company on this date.

Woolston’s Attestation was approved at Windsor on 8 March 1915 and he was appointed as a Sapper, Regimental Number 1459, in the 3^rd Home Counties Divisional Signal Company, R.E. (T.F.) by the Officer Commanding the company. He was next submitted to a number of medical and trade examinations and tests. On 25 March he received the first of a series of inoculations against small pox. On 28 May he was administered a trade test by a Civilian Tradesman at the Windsor General Post Office and was rated as a “Good” Telegraphist.

Woolston was given his second inoculation against small pox on 13 June 1915 and on 15 June he was administered another medical examination at Tonbridge by Lieutenant Hugh Palmer of the Royal Army Medical Corps. This examination was probably given to him to see if he was fit for deployment to a theatre of war, although it would be more than two years before he was sent to France.

The amount of military training that Woolston received prior to being called up for active service is difficult to determine. The territorial units, especially the third line units, faced difficulties as they trained up to operational standard. Some units did not get an opportunity to practice with live ammunition. Rifle practice suffered due to lack of rifles, practice ammunition and ranges on which to use them. Because there was insufficient transport, a motley collection of carts, private vehicles and lorries were pressed into service. The animals used to pull the non-motorized transport ranged in pedigree from half-blind pit ponies to show horses. The Territorial Force competed with the New Army for recruits, and the War Office prioritized the latter for training and equipment. Many of the regular army staff posted to territorial units were recalled to their parent regiments, and those professionals that still remained were transferred to territorial reserve units in January 1915. Training proved difficult for formations that were widely dispersed as part of their defence duties, and was complicated for all by the need to reorganize the territorial units.

As Woolston was a trained telegraphist posted to a Royal Engineers divisional signal company, he had already received most of the technical training needed to perform the duties of his military trade. However, he still required training in those areas that would make him a soldier. This training he would receive on weekends and during the summers of 1916 and 1917 before he actually was deployed to a theatre of the war. In the meantime he continued working as a postman in Windsor.

On 6 April 1916 Woolston was given another medical examination and was classified A, a classification indicating that he would be able to march, see to shoot, hear well and stand active service conditions. On 9 February 1917 he was inoculated against typhoid and on 11 June 1917 he was re-vaccinated against small pox. It probably was evident to him by this time that he was being prepared for something, something like going to war.

On 2 November 1917 Woolston was transferred to a second line unit, the 2^nd Home Counties Divisional Signal Company, R.E. Second-line units assumed responsibility for home defence and provided replacement drafts to the first line. The second line competed with the New Army for limited resources and was poorly equipped and armed as a result. The provision of replacements to the first line compromised the second line's home defence capabilities until a third line was raised to take over responsibility for territorial recruitment and training. The second line's duties were further complicated by the expectation, later confirmed, that it too would be deployed overseas.

The 2^nd Home Counties Division was renumbered the 67^th Division shortly after Woolston’s transfer to the divisional signal company. The 67^th Division served on home defense duties throughout the war, while recruiting, training and supplying drafts to overseas units and formations. It was twice warned to prepare to be transferred to Ireland, and in April 1917 for service on the Western Front, but it never left England. It was eventually disbanded in March 1919.

Woolston’s stay with the 67^th Division was a short one, as he was posted to one of the Royal Engineers Signal Service Depots in the U.K. and then from the Depot to the 20^th (Light) Divisional Signal Company. The 20th (Light) Division was part of Kitchener's Army, raised during the Great War. The division was formed in September 1914 as part of the K2 Army Group. The division landed in France in July 1915 and spent the duration of the war in action on the Western Front.

Before he could leave to join the unit, Woolston had to be examined by a Medical Board. He had been injured while riding a horse, probably during training as divisional signal companies used horses to perform many of their duties. On 15 December 1917 the Medical Board concluded that he had been:

Thrown from a horse through [the] latter stumbling. As the horse struggled to rise it hit [the] man on the left ear with one of its forelegs. The result was slight deafness in the left ear.

Woolston was not hospitalized for this injury. He was treated by the medical personnel in his unit.

It was not until 22 December 1917 that Woolston joined the 20^th (Light) Divisional Signal Company in France. The Commander Royal Engineers (CRE) of the division was Lieutenant Colonel Ethelbert Monk Newell, R.E.[7] Other units of the Royal Engineers in the 20^th Division were:

On 23 February 1918 the 20^th Division billeted in the vicinity of Ham, 16 miles south west of the front line at St. Quentin. The division was in General Headquarters reserve with XVIII Corps. The 20^th Divisional Signal Company worked to establish communications with brigades in defensive positions during late February and the first three weeks of March.[8]

From 21-23 March Woolston’s company was involved in the Battle of St. Quentin while the 20^th Division served with XVIII Corps in the Fifth Army. On 23 March the division held the Somme canal line from 2 miles west of Ham. During this action Woolston’s company suffered one fatal casualty, 25222 Sapper Edward B. Ringe, M.M., R.E., who died on 24 March 1918. Ringe’s death was probably due to wounds suffered in the battle.[9]

Next came the Battle of Rosieres from 26-27 March where the 20^th Division was holding a 2.5 mile sector east of Le Quesnel across the Roye-Amiens road. On 29 March the division was deployed between the village of Demuin and Mézières-en-Santerre, 2 miles to the south east across the Roye-Amiens road working under XIX Corps. By the morning of 30 March the division and its reinforcements held the road from Demuin to Moreuil 3.75 miles to the southwest. The division was moved to near Abbeville, in order to rest and absorb replacements for its losses. It was withdrawn from the front line on 1 April.

On 17 April 1918 the 20^th Division was moved to Villers-Châtel about 10 miles north west of Arras, returning to XVIII Corps control, this time under First Army. Between 1 and 3 May the division relieved the 3^rd Canadian Division in the Lens-Avion sector, either side of the river Souchez. The 20^th Divisional Signal Company suffered the loss of 325471 Pioneer Alexander M. Stewart, who died on 7 July 1918.[10]

On 27 August the whole division moved to the right, entirely south of the river Souchez. The initial moves by the 20^th Division were an attack on the lines south of Lens at Acheville, which captured 1,200 yards of the German front line trench. Then from 28 September to 11 November the division took part in the pursuit of the retreating German forces to Mons. The pursuit took part in a number of stages:

In late November 1918, following the Armistice, the division was concentrated around Marieux, 11 miles north west of Albert. On 29 November Woolston left on leave to the U.K., returning to his unit on 7 December. Although the war was over there was much work to do regarding the disbandment of the division.

Woolston was allowed another period of leave from 28 December 1918 to 10 January 1919, with most of the 20^th Division disbanding during January. In preparation for his own demobilization Woolston received another medical examination to determine if he had been injured in any way while on active service. The examining doctor indicated that he had fluid discharging from his left ear and that there was a loss of hearing in that ear. This determination was essentially the same as the Medical Board determination made back on 15 December 1917. On 29 May Woolston was dispatched home from France and was posted again to the 67^th Divisional Signal Company for demobilization.

Woolston was transferred to the Class ‘Z’ Army Reserve on 16 June 1919. His records show that at the time of his transfer his Medical Category was A1, his trade was Telegraphist and that if he was called back to service he was to report to the Royal Engineers Headquarters and Depot at Chatham. In July 1919 Woolston initiated a claim for disability due to the injury to his left ear.

For his service during the war Sapper Woolston received the British War Medal and Victory Medal. The medals were issued to him on 3 February 1922.

Figure 5. The British War Medal and Victory Medal.
(Image from the author’s collection)

NOTE: The medals shown above are not those of Sapper Woolston. They are presented here for illustrative purposes only.

Figure 6. Medal Index Card of Sapper Thomas George Woolston, R.E.
(Image courtesy of Ancestry.com)

Woolston’s Medal Index Card shows his Territorial Force Regimental Number (1459) and his New Army Regimental Number (538340). The T.F. number was issued when men enlisted in a T.F. unit and were sequential from number 1 to the highest number of the last man enlisted. The New Army numbers were based on blocks of numbers allotted to units as the unit was created for active service.

The Medal Index Card clearly shows that Woolston was awarded the two medals shown above. Unfortunately, the card does not show the Theatre of War in which he served or the date of entry therein. From his service papers it was determined that he served in France and that he went there on or about 2 November 1917.

Thomas George Woolston was released from service on 16 June 1919 when he was transferred to the Class ‘Z’ Army Reserve. His total service was reckoned as shown in the tables below:

Thomas Woolston’s brother, Samuel David Woolston (1885-1946) was born in Brighton, Sussex in March 1885. He enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Private, Regimental Number 56454, prior to his brother’s enlistment in the Royal Engineers. Samuel went to France on 7 June 1915 and for his service he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. Samuel’s service papers could not be found, so details of his service could not be included in this research dealing with the service of his brother Thomas.

NOTE: The medals shown below are not those of Private Woolston. They are presented here for illustrative purposes only.

Figure 7. 56454 Private Samuel David Woolston, R.A.M.C.
(Image courtesy of janlinhawk)

Figure 8. The 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
(Image from the author’s collection)

Figure 9. The Medal Index Card of 56454 Private Samuel David Woolston, R.A.M.C.
(Image courtesy of Ancestry.com)

Samuel Woolston’s Medal Index Card shows that he went to France on 7 June 1915, thus making him entitled to the 1914-15 Star as well as the other two medals.

Thomas Woolston returned to his post office duties after the war as a Sorting Clerk and Telegraphist at the General Post Office in Lewes, East Sussex, a town of the River Ouse at a point where the river cuts through the South Downs, a range of chalk hills in the south-eastern coastal counties of England. In 1939 he was living at 18 Toronto Terrace with his wife and daughters Phyllis and Florence.

Figure 10. The Woolston Home at 18 Toronto Terrace, Lewes, Sussex.
(Image courtesy of Google Earth)

Fanny Woolston died in Lewes on 18 November 1952. Phyllis Maisie Woolston died in Brighton on 22 January 1953.

Figure 11. Dorothy Frances Solley, A Practicing Midwife.
(Image courtesy of janlinhawk)

Thomas George Woolston died in Hove Hospital on Sackville Road in Hove, Sussex on 22 September 1964. The cause of his death was carcinoma of the esophagus. Probate of his Will took place at Lewes on 20 November 1964 with his effects going to his daughter Dorothy Frances Solly, wife of Leonard James Solly, in the amount of £4,511 (approximately $153,450 US in 2025 currency).

Dorothy and Leonard had been married in 1959. Leonard had served in the Royal Navy from 9 August 1916 to 6 March 1920 when he was discharged with the rank of Telegrapher aboard HMS Victory.[11]

INGLEFIELD, V.E. The History of the Twentieth (Light) Division. Nisbet & Co. Ltd., London, 1921.

Battle Honours of the Royal Engineers. The Royal Engineers Journal. The Institution of Royal Engineers, Chatham, Kent, 1925-1932.

[1] Woolston family tree.

[2] 1901 Census of England.

[3] Marriage Certificate.

[4] Woolston family tree.

[5] Ratings by the Snellen Visual Acuity Test.

[6] It should be noted that where no citations are provided for facts in this section, the information was obtained from Woolston’s service papers.

[7] Later, Distinguished Service Order.

[8] INGLEFIELD.

[9] Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

[10] Ibid. During the war the 20^th Divisional Signal Company suffered six fatal casualties; two in 1915, two in 1916 and two in 1918 while Woolston was serving in the company.

[11] Woolston family tree.

Address: 1 Brookside Villas, Parklands Road, Hassocks, Sussex.
Name and Surname	Relation	Marital Status	Age	Profession or Occupation	Birthplace
Thomas George Woolston	Head	Married	29	G.P.O. letter carrier	Brighton, Sussex
Fanny Woolston	Wife	Married	30		Ditching, Sussex
Dorothy Frances Woolston	Daughter		4		Hassocks, Sussex
Rose Brooker	Sister in Law	Single	28	Certificated Teacher	Hassocks, Sussex

Apparent Age:	33 years and 270 days
Height:	5 feet 8½ inches
Weight:	1 stone 10 pounds (164 pounds)
Chest (expanded) :	38½ inches
Range of Expansion:	1½ inches
Physical Development:	Good
Vaccination Marks:	3 on left arm
When Vaccinated:	In infancy
Vision:	Right eye, 6/6. Left eye, 6/6.[5]
Marks of Previous Disease:	Nil
Slight defects:	Slight varicocele (varicose veins)
Trade:	Postman
Religion:	Church of England

Location	Period of Service
Home Service (Territorial Force)	24 February 1915 – 5 April 1916
Home Service (Active Force)	6 April 1916 – 1 November 1917
France	2 November 1917 – 28 May 1919
Chatham (for demobilization)	29 May 1919 -16 June 1919

Location	Period of Service
Home Service	2 years and 272 days
Service Abroad	1 year and 207 days
Total Service	4 years and 114 days

Location

Location

Total Service