Lives of the First World War

In uniform with a good conduct stripe, awarded after two years' service.

Taken at Colchester in late 1917 or early 1918

Proof that Thomas Tooke was born on 27.03.1899

Proof that Thomas Tooke died on 02.04.1966

He is the soldier seated on the left in the front row of this picture, taken at a photographer’s studio when he was training in England. At first it seems hard to identify this skinny young recruit as the beefier soldier in later pictures. However, earlier photographs of him as a teenage civilian and later ones of him as a young married man are clearly of the same person. Tom’s scrawny appearance may be explained by the fact that many working-class men were underfed. Army doctors observed that malnourishment was widespread amongst recruits. The much better army diet, combined with training designed to toughen them up through long marches and plenty of digging, meant that many men rapidly put on a lot of weight.

Tom's weight gain is apparent in the following photo from a photographer’s studio in Colchester, taken whilst he was in training there. Tom wrote on the reverse: ‘The Terrible Squad Left to right: L/cpl Robertson my best pal, myself, L/cpl Miller, & Pte Mills Four lads of the 52nd Beds’

A torn informal snapshot, taken when Tom (far right) and his mates had liberated some wine from a cellar and so were feeling rather relaxed when this picture was taken. One of his companions was killed a few days later.

Billet at Houyet, Belgium.

Shows Thomas living with his parents at 46 Lynn Road, Wisbech.

Shows he was admitted to the school from St Peter's Boys' School on 14.9.1908 and left the town on 12.5.1911, also that he lived with his uncle John Thomas Tooke at 2 Queen Street, Wisbech.

Shows Thomas living with his uncle and aunt at 2 Queen Street, Wisbech.

Shows Thomas returned to this school on 14.8.1911 from school at Grimston and was living with his aunt Jessie at 10 York Terrace, Wisbech.

In action, possibly at Hangard Wood, Tom was struck in the foot by a piece of shrapnel. He removed his boot, hoping for a wound that would send him home, (popularly known as ‘a Blighty One’). He discovered only a blister, which he described as ‘the biggest disappointment of my life’ but he kept the shrapnel.

Marriage of Thomas Tooke, age 23, occupation shop assistant, and Florence Gladys Southwell, age 22. Groom’s father: William Tooke, occupation gardener. Bride’s stepfather: Robert Arthur Lemmon, occupation labourer. Groom’s address: 47 Norfolk St, Wisbech. Bride’s address: 32 Milner Rd, Wisbech. The marriage was in the parish church at Wisbech St Peter.

This shows his signature beneath his service number whilst with his training battalion, the 52nd Bedfordshire Regiment.

Record showing names of Tom's parents and most siblings, and that he was not living with them.

Privately printed book of the history of the Tooke family

Tom was always smartly dressed