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ept a report in the Stamford & Rutland News of 9th June
1915 when reporting the death of his brother Albert:-
“Another son, William, has been in the Navy, but he was discharged as
unfit for further service owing to injuries received.”
LITTLE Thomas Henry B
Lance Corporal G/19162 10th Battalion, Queens (Royal
West Surrey Regiment)
22664 Northamptonshire Regiment
Born in 1896 in Kings Cliffe, Tom was the eldest son of Robert
and Sarah Jane Little of Park Street, Kings Cliffe.
For some reason in 1911, as a 14-year-old, he was living with
his grandfather and aunt a short distance from his parents on
Park Street.
He was 18 when he joined up, soon after the war started, but
his records no longer exist, so we cannot be sure of an actual
date. We do know that he signed on with the Northamptonshire
Regiment and was then transferred to the West Surrey
Regiment. He was with them in 1918, by which time he had
been promoted to Lance Corporal.
The 10th Battalion of the West Surreys was formed in Battersea
in June 1915. In 1916 they were fighting in France and incurred
very heavy casualties at Fleurs, but at the end of that year they
were sent to Italy and also saw fighting there.
The Stamford & Rutland News reports:-
“Home from Italy – To the surprise of relations and friends, Lance-
Corporal Tom Little arrived home from Italy on Sunday night. It is a
common occurrence for soldiers to come home from France, but Italy
seemed too distant for furlough. Corporal Little was home on leave last
October, and then was wired to join his regiment and proceed to Italy.
He speaks of fighting there as ‘a picnic’ compared with France. To
see the sunrise over the Alps is a grand sight, and from then to three
o’clock in the afternoon it is more like a July day in England. Then it
gets colder and one can do with a top-coat on. On coming home he
passed through the Simplon Tunnel, the longest in the world.”
127
1915 when reporting the death of his brother Albert:-
“Another son, William, has been in the Navy, but he was discharged as
unfit for further service owing to injuries received.”
LITTLE Thomas Henry B
Lance Corporal G/19162 10th Battalion, Queens (Royal
West Surrey Regiment)
22664 Northamptonshire Regiment
Born in 1896 in Kings Cliffe, Tom was the eldest son of Robert
and Sarah Jane Little of Park Street, Kings Cliffe.
For some reason in 1911, as a 14-year-old, he was living with
his grandfather and aunt a short distance from his parents on
Park Street.
He was 18 when he joined up, soon after the war started, but
his records no longer exist, so we cannot be sure of an actual
date. We do know that he signed on with the Northamptonshire
Regiment and was then transferred to the West Surrey
Regiment. He was with them in 1918, by which time he had
been promoted to Lance Corporal.
The 10th Battalion of the West Surreys was formed in Battersea
in June 1915. In 1916 they were fighting in France and incurred
very heavy casualties at Fleurs, but at the end of that year they
were sent to Italy and also saw fighting there.
The Stamford & Rutland News reports:-
“Home from Italy – To the surprise of relations and friends, Lance-
Corporal Tom Little arrived home from Italy on Sunday night. It is a
common occurrence for soldiers to come home from France, but Italy
seemed too distant for furlough. Corporal Little was home on leave last
October, and then was wired to join his regiment and proceed to Italy.
He speaks of fighting there as ‘a picnic’ compared with France. To
see the sunrise over the Alps is a grand sight, and from then to three
o’clock in the afternoon it is more like a July day in England. Then it
gets colder and one can do with a top-coat on. On coming home he
passed through the Simplon Tunnel, the longest in the world.”
127
