Thomas Mottershaw
Date of birth: 1895
Date of death: 15.11.1920
Area: Outwood, Wakefield
Regiment: Royal Garrison Artillery
Family information: Son of John and Elizabeth Hodgson Mottershaw nee Barber
Rank: Gunner
Service number: 5666
War Service
On 21st October 1915 Thomas Mottershaw enlisted in the army at Wakefield. After passing a medical he was posted to 149th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. On the 27th July 1916 the 149th Heavy Battery was posted to France, but without Gunner Mottershaw. On 1st August 1916 Gunner Mottershaw was transferred to the 207 Siege Gun Battery. One month later, on 1st September, he was posted to the Siege Gun School at Aldershot.
Thomas Mottershaw was suffering from debility and, on 2nd April 1917, he was transferred to the Army Reserve, for work at Low Laithes Colliery, Wrenthorpe. On the 12th September 1917 Thomas Mottershaw was discharged from the army as being no longer physically fit for service. He was later awarded a pension of 19/5d per week, payable from 23rd April 1917.
Family Life
Born in 1895, Thomas Mottershaw was the eldest son of John Mottershaw and his wife, formerly Elizabeth Hodgson Barber, of Huddersfield. Shortly after the birth of their son, John and Elizabeth moved to a house in Hatfield Row, at Outwood. In 1911 Thomas was living with his parents and four younger siblings at Alexander View, Lofthouse Gate. At this time Thomas had left school and was employed as a trammer, working underground at a local colliery. Later the Mottershaw family moved to No 3, Acute Terrace, Flanshaw Lane, Wakefield.
After the War:
On 15th November 1920 Thomas Mottershaw of Flanshaw Hill died at the age of 25 years. He was buried three days later at Outwood cemetery after a service at St Mary Magdalene Church, Outwood. His name is not included on the war memorials at Outwood. However he is remembered on the Wrenthorpe Colliery War Memorial at St John’s Church, Wakefield.
Outwood St Mary Magdalene Church
