Current Information:

Age-22

Born-Prittlewell

Enlisted-Armoury House

Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery, Belgium

On 28th January, 1915, the 1st Honourable Artillery Company battalion of 8 Brigade, 3rd Division left their billets in Locre and moved into the front line at Kemmel in Belgium where they remained until relieved on 1st February. Thomas Dowsett was killed on 30th January and although the battalion diary mentions his death it provides no further information. The attrition rate among British soldiers on the Western Front was on average 300 each day and 60% of these were as a result of shellfire. When not involved in an actual battle it was either shell fire or a sniper’s bullet that caused most deaths and injuries.