Captain Thomas Henry Cole Royal Artillery
The Man Thomas Henry Cole was born on Tuesday 26th March 1907 in Kings Norton, Birmingham. Son of Thomas Henry senior a Perambulator Maker and Rose Amy nee Chambers he was one of six children, Caroline Rose (1895-1973), George Frederick (1896-1976), Alice Elizabeth (1901-), Helen (1909-2000), Leslie John (1913-1990).
The 1911 census shows the family living at 40 Castleford Road, Sparkhill and following his education Thomas became a Garage Director and in 1936 was living at 98 Fordhouse Lane, Stirchley and later flat D, Pembroke Court, Petersfield Road, Hall Green. On 10th February 1936, aged 29 he became a Special Constable in the Birmingham Police, R Division based at Ladywood. He served for three years and resigned on 18th February 1939 subsequently joining the 133rd Officer Cadet Training Unit with the Royal Artillery in 1940 and on 25th January 1941 was granted an Emergency Commission as 2nd Lieutenant with service number 170420.
He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1942 and saw service following D-Day in Northwest Europe andawarded the 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45 following the war. He gave forwarding addresses of 21 Bills Lance, Shirley and 46 Kingslea Road both in Solihull, possibly the residence of one of his relatives.
In the London Gazette of 21st February 1947, he was awarded his Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’; war service counting double.
Thomas was promoted to Captain (War Substantive Lieutenant and Emergency Commission) in the RA Territorial Army on 14th April 1948 and on 19th November 1952 transferred to the Royal Army Service Corps, TA Reserve of Officers, missing out on the clasp to his EM by two months.
He ceased to belong to the TA Reserve of Officers, having reached the age limit on 21st April 1962 and died during the second quarter of 1982 in Bournemouth aged 75.
The 1911 census shows the family living at 40 Castleford Road, Sparkhill and following his education Thomas became a Garage Director and in 1936 was living at 98 Fordhouse Lane, Stirchley and later flat D, Pembroke Court, Petersfield Road, Hall Green. On 10th February 1936, aged 29 he became a Special Constable in the Birmingham Police, R Division based at Ladywood. He served for three years and resigned on 18th February 1939 subsequently joining the 133rd Officer Cadet Training Unit with the Royal Artillery in 1940 and on 25th January 1941 was granted an Emergency Commission as 2nd Lieutenant with service number 170420.
He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1942 and saw service following D-Day in Northwest Europe andawarded the 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45 following the war. He gave forwarding addresses of 21 Bills Lance, Shirley and 46 Kingslea Road both in Solihull, possibly the residence of one of his relatives.
In the London Gazette of 21st February 1947, he was awarded his Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’; war service counting double.
Thomas was promoted to Captain (War Substantive Lieutenant and Emergency Commission) in the RA Territorial Army on 14th April 1948 and on 19th November 1952 transferred to the Royal Army Service Corps, TA Reserve of Officers, missing out on the clasp to his EM by two months.
He ceased to belong to the TA Reserve of Officers, having reached the age limit on 21st April 1962 and died during the second quarter of 1982 in Bournemouth aged 75.
Thomas Cole's WWII Medal Index Card.
The Story The Efficiency medal awarded to Thomas Henry Cole was acquired together with the medals to Leo Thomas Howlett in June 2024, it was kept together with Howlett’s medals as they had come together and the relationship between both men uncertain.
Initially research proved difficult with a relatively common name, however upon the release of Ancestry’s World War II Medal Index Cards in October 2024, his full medal entitlement was established together with two forwarding addresses in Solihull, Birmingham. This gave further scope for research, but nothing could be linked to either address.
The final attempt was from the London Gazette that showed Thomas ceasing to be in the TARO in 1962 having reached the age limit, so taking 55 as his retirement age from 1962 gave a year of 1907. Using his name and year of birth gave only one direct match, living in Birmingham!
Hence, on the balance of probabilities this is the same man enabling a reasonable biography to be pieced together.
Initially research proved difficult with a relatively common name, however upon the release of Ancestry’s World War II Medal Index Cards in October 2024, his full medal entitlement was established together with two forwarding addresses in Solihull, Birmingham. This gave further scope for research, but nothing could be linked to either address.
The final attempt was from the London Gazette that showed Thomas ceasing to be in the TARO in 1962 having reached the age limit, so taking 55 as his retirement age from 1962 gave a year of 1907. Using his name and year of birth gave only one direct match, living in Birmingham!
Hence, on the balance of probabilities this is the same man enabling a reasonable biography to be pieced together.
Medal Details:
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- France and Germany Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Efficiency Medal: LT. T.H.COLE. R.A.
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