Hi Rick,
First, I hope life in Afghan is pretty quiet for you right now. Our son-in-law has done two tours operating right in the thick of it, so our thoughts are with you.
As far as Pte Thomas Wall's concerned, I can offer an insight as I've recently spent time at the Worcestershire Regiment archive conducting some research for what I hope will be a radio documentary to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Gheluvelt next year.
Among the information I've gleaned is a list detailing men who were / weren't at Gheluvelt. I hope I'm not out of order letting you know that the file in question records Thomas as not being at Gheluvelt.
He is recorded as having been wounded eight days before, on the 23rd. This is what it says:
Born abt. 1885 West Bromwich he enlisted aged 18 years 5 months in Dudley. Wounded 23/10/14. Reported in the Birmingham Daily Post Friday 4th December 1914 page 4 to be in The Queen Alexandra's Military Hospital, London under date 26th October 1914.
I also have a PDF copy of the official record of the Regiment, called 'Worcestershire Regiment in the Great War', which describes in detail what 2nd Battalion were doing that day.
If you'd like me to send you an extract, I'll gladly do so. Email me at
markhiggit@gmail.com.
Hope that helps. Good luck and stay focused. With kind regards,
Mark Higgitt
Alcester
Warks