WORLD WAR I
Bingham War Memorial
Service Record
| 55150 | Gunner Thomas Alfred Buggins (Or Baggins, as he preferred) |
Age 22 Royal Garrison Artillery |
Born 1895 |
| Died 10th April 1917 from pulmonary tuberculosis, as a result of his service. | Buried in pauper’s grave at Bingham cemetery. In 2015 it was marked with a War Graves Commission headstone See newspaper item Newspaper | ||
| Army Records/ Ancestry.com |
Enlisted
Nottingham 24th November 1914, address and workplace: Notts County Asylum.
He was trained as a “Gun Layer” i.e. responsible for aiming
the gun. He embarked at Southampton on 2nd August 1915 and arrived at Boulogne on 4th August. The casualty form records two postings before his return to England. He was discharged at Gosport 16th April 1916 “having been found no longer fit for war service”. He had been hospitalised at the 2nd Western General Hospital, Manchester. He had contracted tuberculosis whilst on active service and was discharged with a pension of 12 shillings and sixpence per week. See details here Local informants suggest his sister nursed him at home for the remainder of his life. The final record we have is a notice to the pensions office of Baggins’ death on 10th April 1917. |
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| CWGC | “Baggins” on CWGC record. No family details but note that “next of kin advised also known as Buggins”. | ||
| Medal card | Awarded Victory, British and 15 Star medals. Entered France 3-8-15 | ||
Family history etc
| 55150 | Gunner Thomas Alfred Buggins (Or Baggins) |
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| 1895 | Born Church Stretton | ||
| Census 1881 |
Father Thomas age 14 living with his parents and siblings on the Ragley Estate in Arrow Warwickshire | Plough boy |
Had brother Alfred after whom Gunner Baggins may have been named. |
| Census 1891 | Father Thomas living at the police station, Oldbury, Worcestershire. Noted as born in Hatton. Unmarried. | Police constable |
Lodging with Police Superintendent’s family and four other constables. |
| 1895 | Thomas Alfred born in Church Stretton, Shropshire | ||
| Census 1901 | Living in Blisworth, Northants with Father: Thomas J Buggins, b 1867, Warwick, Mother: Phyllis, b 1870 Oldbury, Worcs, Siblings: Harry R, b 1896 Church Stretton Phyllis M, b 1899 Church Stretton |
Game Keeper |
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| Census 1911 | Living in a 5 roomed house [now known as Buggins
Cottage] on Fosse Road, Bingham with: Father: Thomas Buggins Mother: Phyllis Siblings: Harry Phyllis May |
Working as Asylum Attendant, Saxondale Hospital Farm Servant (probably gamekeeper) Scholar, later served in Royal Artillery scholar |
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| Bingham Cemetery | Thomas is remembered on his parents’ headstone “also Thomas, son, died of wounds Apr 1917” | ||
| As gamekeeper on large estates, Thomas snr, would have been moved around from time to time to prevent too much danger of collusion with local poachers. His agricultural and police background would have been suitable for becoming a gamekeeper. | |||
| 1923 Free BMD |
Sister Phyllis May married Charles Pacey , Jul-Aug-Sept 1923, who served in the Royal Marines | ||
| Soldier's Effects | War gratuity £5.10.0 paid 9/10/20 to father Thomas and sister Phyllis | ||
