Thomas, Ivor Weston

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Ivor Weston Thomas (Ivor Weston Moore)

14565, Private, 8th Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Died of illness after discharge, 15 December 1919, aged 24
Buried at Llanrhos Churchyard

CWGC registered (1 Sefton Terrace)

Ivor was born on 9 November 1895 at “Cefn-y-Cae”, Rowen, Caerhun, near Conwy. His birth certificate names his parents as George Moore, a butler, and Rose Moore (née Lambert). George and Rose were married in London in 1876 and whilst the census returns for 1881-1901 record both as being married, they were living at separate addresses, probably in part due to George’s occupation as a butler in fashionable London. The Census of 1891 records Rose living at Harrow, Middlesex with four children: Albert, Ernest G, Edith R and Albert as well as a boarder, (Robert) Edward Thomas, an artist and figure-painter from Chester. Robert Edward Thomas’ father was Dr Henry Thomas, managing director of, and physician to, the Llandudno Hydropathic Establishment and Winter Residence (now the Hydro Hotel), Neville Crescent, who died in 1894.

In 1901, Edward Thomas (as “Occupier”), Rose Moore (as “Head of household”), Edith (19), Albert (14) and Ivor (Moore – 5) were living at “Pengwern”, Rowen, Caerhun. The Census of 1911 records Edward Thomas and Rose Moore still living at Caerhun whilst Ivor (as Ifor Weston Thomas) was a boarder at Penketh School, Warrington. The same census records Robert Edward Thomas’ brother Harry living at “Aileen Craig”, Nant-y-Gamer Road Llandudno whose son John Bernard Thomas (qv) was also killed in the Great War. Also living in Llandudno were Robert Edward Thomas’ two sisters, Dora Helen Thomas and Margaret Ann Thomas at 1 Sefton Terrace, Craig-y-Don.

Ivor Weston Thomas enlisted on 5 September 1914 into the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and given a regimental number of 14565, his first battalion recorded being the 11th (Service) Battalion that formed at Wrexham in October 1914. Ivor disembarked in France on 5 September 1915 though the battalion sailed for Salonika almost immediately. Little is known of Ivor’s war – all we know for certain is that at some time was posted to the 8th Battalion that had formed in August 1914, serving in Gallipoli, Egypt, and Mesopotamia. Ivor was discharged as medically unfit for further duty on 22 June 1918, his last unit being recorded as the regiment’s depot (Wrexham). He was awarded the Silver War Badge number 412117 though it is not stated whether this was because of wounds or illness.

Ivor Weston Thomas died on 15 December 1919 at 1 Sefton Terrace of tuberculosis and heart failure. The death certificate records the informant as E Thomas, father, of “Pen-yn-Allt”, Nant-y-Gamer. Ivor’s occupation was given as an assistant chemist at an aluminium works, probably the aluminium factory at Dolgarrog about four miles from Rowen which had opened in 1907. He was buried on 18 December 1919 at Llanrhos Churchyard.

Robert Edward Thomas died on 12 October 1936. His address was 13 Pleasant Street Llandudno and probate was granted to another of his sisters, Eva Thomas. The 1939 Register reveals that Eva Thomas was the head of the household at 13 Pleasant Street Llandudno; the household included Rose as “Rose Thomas” who was described as incapacitated and a widow. She died in 1943 aged 87.

Known memorials:

  • Llandudno Roll of Honour
  • Llandudno War Memorial
  • Memorial Chapel, Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno
  • Rowen Memorial Hall (as Ifor Thomas)
  • St. Mary’s Church, Caerhun

Note 1. It is curious that although Ivor Thomas died in Craig-y-Don which was then in the Parish of Llanrhos, and was buried in Llanrhos Churchyard, his name does not appear on the Llanrhos Parish War Memorial which is in All Saints’ Church, Deganwy. His cousin John Bernard  Thomas is remembered at both Llanrhos and Llandudno.

Note 2. The Commonwealth War Grave Commission incorrectly records the death of Ivor Thomas as on 18 December 1919 and this error is echoed on his headstone. The burial register of the Parish of Llanrhos records that 18 December 1919 was the date of his burial.

2 comments to Thomas, Ivor Weston

  • admin

    Thank you Catherine for your comment. I have amended the narrative as you have suggested.

  • Catherine Hart

    Also, as “Ifor Thomas, Pengwern” on one of the WW1 memorials in Ro-wen Memorial Hall (this handwritten and framed memorial was probably originally from one of the, now closed, chapels in the village).

    Also named “Pte. I. Thomas, R.W.F.” on the memorial for Caerhun Parish, previously in the lychgate – but now inside St. Mary’s Church.

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