Thomas Welsby (1871 - 1917)

Thomas William Welsby was born in the Parish of Worfield - probably at Stableford. He was the son of Thomas Welsby, an agricultural labourer from Kemberton and his wife Mary.

Thomas worked as an agricultural labourer before becoming a gamekeeper and moving to Cheshire. He married Edith Blight in 1900. They had several children.

Thomas enlisted in the Royal Engineers, working in the Tunnelling Companies. He went to France in February 1915. In August 1915 he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his work:

THE D.C.M. FOR A WORFIELD MAN
[Bridgnorth Journal, Saturday 28th August, 1915]
Sapper T. Welsby, Royal Engineers, who is a native of Worfield, near Bridgnorth, has just been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for a gallant action. He laid a charge which destroyed an enemy underground gallery.

The citiation in the London Gazette gives more detail:

66870 Sapper T. Welsby, 170th Tunn. Co., R.E. (LG 5 Aug. 1915).
For conspicuous gallantry and ability on 28th June, 1915 at the Cock Shy, Cuinchy. Whilst clearing a gallery which had been damaged by a German mine, he made a hole into the enemy's gallery accidentally, this he at once blocked up with sandbags and laid a charge against it. Our mine was then successfully fired, destroying the enemy's gallery, and exploding the charge which they had laid. Sapper Welsby has rendered valuable service previously in work of a similarly dangerous nature.

Sapper Welsby was killed in action on 16th April, 1917 whilst with the 174th Tunnelling Company in front of Beaumont-Hamel. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial

Sapper Thomas Welsby, 66870, R. E., was awarded the Victory and British Medals and the 1915 Star.