Mexborough and Swinton Times April 27, 1918

Sergt. Tom Hoskins
West Riding Regiment

Sergeant Hoskins 63, Market. St., Mexborough’, was killed by a shell on April 14.

His widow has received unofficial notification of the death from two officers and the battalion chaplain.

Lieut. C. J. Moore has .written: “Your loss is our loss, for he was one of our most sound and reliable N.C.O’s, and by reason of his capability and constant regard for the men under him, he was liked and respected by all who knew him. On behalf of the Officers and men of the company I assure you of our heartfelt sympathy with you in your sorrow.”

Lieut. E. H Waits wrote: “I have known him for a long time now, and considered him one of our best sergeants, always cheery and doing his job well. His loss will be a personal loss to the whole company, and we all join in sending you our deepest sympathy.”

The Rev. R. W. Thornhill wrote: “As chaplain attached to the battalion, I feel I must send you a’ few lines to express my most sincere sympathy with you in the loss of your husband. May God give you strength to bear your heavy burden. He was one of those who ‘counted not their lives given unto themselves’ in saving us all from a dangerous situation, and I thank you with all my heart for what he has done. He has been buried in a British soldiers’ cemetery well behind our present line.”

Sgt. Hoskins is a Huddersfield man, but he came to Mexboro’ in 1913 to succeed his wife’s uncle, Mr. J. T. Taylor, in business as a grocer. While he has been at the war Mr. Taylor has been ‘carrying on for him. He was an old Volunteer, and had seen fourteen years’ service in the Volunteers and Territorials before the war. He enlisted immediately on the outbreak of hostilities and first went to France on April 1, 1915, exactly three years before the date of his death. He was wounded in 1915, end was buried by a shell in 1916 his friend being killed by his side France on. April 1, 1915.

He leaves a widow and one child, a little girl.

From C.W.G.C.:

Sergeant
HOSKIN, TOM
Service Number 240419

Died 14/04/1918
Aged 35

“D” Coy. 2nd/5th Bn.
Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)

Son of Mrs. Hannah Hoskin, of 15, Park Rd., Lockwood, Huddersfield; husband of Mary Alice Hoskin, of 137, De la Pole Avenue, Hull.