Thomas Woodhams was born in June 1888 in Tonbridge, Kent.  He appears on the 1901 census of England & Wales as a thirteen year old school boy living with his family at Twyford Lodge Cottage, Maresfield, Sussex.  The family comprised Thomas Woodhams (head, born in Tunbridge Wells, Kent), a widower aged 38 and working from home as a gamekeeper, and his four children: [Edith] Kate Woodhams (aged 15, born in Tonbridge), Thomas, Jesse Woodhams (aged ten, born in Chelwood Common, Sussex) and Frederick Woodhams (aged three, born in Twyford, Sussex).

 

The Children's mother, Sarah Woodhams, (nee Godsmark), had died a few months earlier at the young age of 36, leaving her husband to care for their four children.

 

Thomas emigrated to the United States of America in 1913 aboard the ship St Louis.  He departed from Southampton and arrived at New York on 25th August 1913.  Four years later, in 1917, he registered for the war draft in New York where he worked as a chauffeur.  He gave his place of birth as Tonbridge, Kent.

 

Chailey Parish Magazine first mentions him in August 1917 noting:  Woodhams, Pte TJ, RFA. This information is repeated up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919.

 

A search of the National Archives’ medal index cards suggest that he may be 94309 Driver Thomas Woodhams who subsequently served as a driver with the Labour Corps (number 425546).  The role of driver certainly fits in nicely with his peace time occupation although this line of research still needs to be investigated more thoroughly.

 

Thomas returned to the US after the war ended and appears on the 1920 census aged 31, still working as a chauffeur for a private family in New York.  With him was his wife, Catherine (born in Scotland about 1890).  By the time the 1930 census was taken he was aged 41 and working as an inspector with Westinghouse Electric. He and Catherine were living in rented accommodation in New York which, in those days, cost the princely sum of $38 a month.

 

Thomas’s two brothers: Jesse Woodhams and Frederick G Woodhams also served their King and Country during the First World War.

 

 

Sources & Acknowledgements

 

• 1901 Census of England & Wales
• Chailey Parish Magazine
• The National Archives’ on line medal information card index
• John Hastings-Garrett and Dennis Savage for contacting me with additional information about the Woodhams family