Thomas Weaver lived in Barton Wells in the hamlet of Barton, a mile or so east of Farndon village. Situated on the sharp rise near the Cock o' Barton Inn, he lived there with his parents, Thomas and Margaret Weaver. When Thomas signed on for the Cheshires he went into a different unit from his younger brother James, who was posted to the 13th Battalion. James was killed a few months after Thomas near Vimy Ridge, Arras, France in May 1916. James is also on the Farndon War Memorial.

Barton hamlet in relation to Farndon (modern O.S.). Barton Wells faces the Barton Plantation (near the number 21)

Cock o' Barton Inn, Barton

Ypres Salient, Belgium

At the time war broke out the 2^nd Cheshires had been in India for four years, stationed at Jubbulpore. When war was declared in August 1914, they were immediately ordered home, arriving back in Britain on Christmas. The precise date when Thomas signed on is unknown but it was probably shortly after war was declared, considering the time required for training compared with the date he was killed. By 16 January 1915, the Battalion was ready to leave for the Front and embarked for Le Havre from Southampton.

By 5 February 1915, the Battalion was occupying positions at Blauwepoort Farm, facing the Ypres Salient, just south of the town centre of Ypres (now Ieper). On trench maps, the farm name was spelt as two words - Blauwe Poort - and at that time there was a small moat around three sides of the farm buildings. Nos. 3 and 4 Companies were ordered forward to support the 1^st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment in the front line. By the 17th February, Thomas had been killed and was probably buried just behind the front line. Over the course of the war, many of these small front line burial areas were destroyed by the later warfare or their positions simply lost. Thomas now has no known grave and he is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing at Ieper.

The battlefield of the Ypres Salient towards Passchendaele

Blauwepoort Farm Cemetery, shortly afrer the war

Blauwepoort Farm Cemetery now occupies the former position of the Farm and the Cheshire positions in February 1915 (no.33, centre)

The Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, Ypres (Ieper), Belgium

The Menin Gate, Ypres (Ieper)

Each evening at 8pm a short memorial service is held.
Both ends of the Gate are cordoned off, buglers from local fire brigade assemble and sound the Last Post, and Binyon's verse is read out.
It's always a proud moment when your own students lead the service and read the exhortation, before laying the first wreath.
I have taken several parties to the Menin Gate to lead the service - click here for a recent visit.

These students also helped to find the name of Thomas Weaver on the Memorial panels.

The poppy marks Thomas Weaver

(below) Panel detail from some of the Cheshires recorded on the Memorial

Thomas Weaver - Commonwealth War Graves Commission Record