Thomas Caslin - commemorated at last after over 90 years
Posted: 04 Nov 2011 12:56
Thomas Caslin was probably one of the oldest men in Prescot to enlist in the army at the outbreak of the Great War. He was 41 when he attested on 8th September 1914.
His story can be found on this page on my website
http://www.prescot-rollofhonour.info/ca ... aslin.html
In summary, he was discharged early in March 1918 as he was classed as "permanently unfit", his illness and ailments all caused by the time he spent in the trenches of Flanders and France.
Thomas never fully recovered and eventually passed away on 21st May 1919. He was buried in St Mary's Churchyard a few days later.
When I started my Prescot Roll of Honour research about 10 years ago, I found that Thomas was not commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Eventually, having obtained his death certificate and service records, I submitted a case for him to be commemorated to the Ministry of Defence back in 2007. (The MoD make the determination on who to commemorate, then pass this decision to the CWGC).
After just over four years, I was delighted to be informed earlier this week that Thomas has now been accepted for commemoration, and he is now officially classed as a casualty of the Great War.
CWGC have added him to their online register here
http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_det ... y=75229760
I have passed to them details of his burial in Prescot St Mary's and CWGC will now work with Knowsley Council to determine the location of his grave - I can't find it! If a stone with his name can't be located, then hopefully a new stone will be erected at a location decided by the authorities and this stone will bear the legend 'Buried Elsewhere in This Churchyard".
As we approach the season of Remembrance, let us all raise a glass or say a prayer to the memory of Thomas Caslin.
We Will Remember Them
His story can be found on this page on my website
http://www.prescot-rollofhonour.info/ca ... aslin.html
In summary, he was discharged early in March 1918 as he was classed as "permanently unfit", his illness and ailments all caused by the time he spent in the trenches of Flanders and France.
Thomas never fully recovered and eventually passed away on 21st May 1919. He was buried in St Mary's Churchyard a few days later.
When I started my Prescot Roll of Honour research about 10 years ago, I found that Thomas was not commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Eventually, having obtained his death certificate and service records, I submitted a case for him to be commemorated to the Ministry of Defence back in 2007. (The MoD make the determination on who to commemorate, then pass this decision to the CWGC).
After just over four years, I was delighted to be informed earlier this week that Thomas has now been accepted for commemoration, and he is now officially classed as a casualty of the Great War.
CWGC have added him to their online register here
http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_det ... y=75229760
I have passed to them details of his burial in Prescot St Mary's and CWGC will now work with Knowsley Council to determine the location of his grave - I can't find it! If a stone with his name can't be located, then hopefully a new stone will be erected at a location decided by the authorities and this stone will bear the legend 'Buried Elsewhere in This Churchyard".
As we approach the season of Remembrance, let us all raise a glass or say a prayer to the memory of Thomas Caslin.
We Will Remember Them
