On this day 22nd December 1917

t6-battn-copy2479/240592 Pte. Tom Westray Garley was killed in action aged 21 whilst attached to the 139th Trench Mortar Battery

Tom was a labourer from Disley who enlisted on the 9th October 1914. He arrived in France with 46th Division on  28th February 1915 and was wounded accidentally in the right arm on 8th August 1915 at Zillebeke whilst serving with with “B” Company.

Garley B103

Tom transferred to the 139th TMB in November 1917 and was killed 6 weeks later.139-tmb-dec-1917

The War Diary of the Battery records one mortar destroyed, Tom killed and 1541/240152 Pte Walter Trevitt Harrison, a colour mixer from Hayfield, wounded.

Harrison

Walter Harrison’s Service Record records that the gun explosion was accidental.

Tom was the son of Richard and Edith Garley of Lane Head Disley in Cheshire and is now buried in Philosophe British Cemetery in Mazingarbe.

3 thoughts on “On this day 22nd December 1917

  1. Michelle Rayner

    Tom Westray Garley of Disley and his brother Richard who served in the Seaforth Highlanders were my Great uncles on my mothers side. I was just wondering if the photograph of the four men one this page includes Tom

    Reply

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