Thomas Beech Barton was born in 1900 in Wrexham, Denbighshire. At the time of the 1901 census Thomas Beech Barton was residing in Grove Park, Wrexham. He was residing at the address with his father Thomas Barton (Snr), a colliery worker, and his mother, Kate Barton. Also resident at the address was his Aunt Ada Jones and two domestic servants1.
Thomas Beech Barton was enlisted as a Rifleman with the 5th Battalion, The King’s (Liverpool Regiment) 2
Thomas Beech Barton died on the 20th June 1918 at the Park Hall Military Hospital, Selattyn, Oswestry, England2/3/4. The cause of his death was bronchial pneumonia3.
On Monday 24th June 1918 Thomas Beech Barton was buried in the churchyard at All Saints, Gresford, Wrexham in a service performed by the Vicar of Hoseley. His address was recorded as Burton Lodge, Gresford5.
On Saturday 29th June 1918 the death and funeral of Thomas Beech Barton was covered in The Wrexham Advertiser and North Wales News. The article reads,
“Wrexham Soldier’s Death at Oswestry –
The death took place at Park Hall Military Hospital, Oswestry of Pte. Barton Jnr. King’s (Liverpool) Regiment, son of Mr T. Beech Barton, now of Eaton Lodge,
Gresford, late of Congleton, and formally of Plasynllwyn, Wrexham. Pte. Barton died from bronchial pneumonia. The funeral took place at Gresford Church on Monday. When living at Wrexham Pte. Barton’s father was well known as managing director of the Brynmalley Colliery Co. Ltd. and as head of the firm of Barton & Co. Coal Merchants, and as a member of Wrexham Council3.
His grave is marked by a family gravestone, it reads, “In loving memory of our only son
Thomas Beech Barton late Pte 5th King’s L’pool Regt Who died at the Military Hospital, Oswestry
June 20th 1918 Aged 18½ years2”
At the time of his death Thomas Beech Barton’s estate was worth £471 16s. 6d, which was left to his father, Thomas Beech Barton, Coal Merchant4.
Great War Graves at All Saints, Gresford
Sources:
Photograph by Stan Murphy.
Public Record Office, Census Returns of England and Wales 1901, Class RG13, Piece 5224, Folio 35, Page 12, Kew, England
Thomas Beech Barton’s Gravestone, Churchyard, All Saints, Gresford, Wrexham
The Wrexham Advertiser and North Wales News, Saturday 29th June 1918, Wrexham Museum & Archives, Wrexham
Principal Probate Registry, Entry for Thomas Beech Barton, Probate date 22nd October 1919, Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England, London, England
Gresford Burials 1887 – 1944, Entry for Thomas Barton 24th June 1918, number 904, page 113, Gresford Parish Registers volume 29 (microfilm), Reference PD/34/1/563, Wrexham Museum & Archives, Wrexham.
