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11/20417   Private Thomas Bolton
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Dated added: 01/01/2016   Last updated: 29/08/2016
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 9th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Died: 08/05/1918 (Prisoner of War)
Age: 27
Summary      
Thomas Bolton was born in Lismoyle, near Swatragh, County Londonderry. Private Tom Bolton was serving with C Company, 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was captured by the Germans on 20th Match 1918 at St Quentin. Subsequent German P.O.W. reports note that he sustained a knee fracture due to a shot through the knee. Private Bolton died on 8th May 1918 as a result of due to general weakness in the auxiliary hospital barracks in Block I to Zerbst. Zerbst is a town in Anhalt-Bitterfeld, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. He was reported as being 23 years old. Private Thomas Bolton is now buried in Berlin South Western Cemetery.
Further Information
Thomas Bolton was the son of Samuel and Martha Bolton. Samuel Bolton married Martha Williamson on 29th July 1883 in the district of Coleraine.
Thomas Bolton was born on 4th March 1891 in Lismoyle, near Swatragh, County Londonderry. He was one of at least seven children, all born in the Kilrea area.
Family: Martha Bolton, Samuel Bolton, Robert William Bolton (born 17th April 1884), John Bolton (born 24th October 1885, Samuel Stewart Bolton (born 7th July 1887), Hugh H Bolton (born 21st January 1889), Thomas Bolton (born 4th March 1891), Martha Jane Bolton (born 6th November 1892), David Bolton (born 2nd February 1895).
His father died when he was very young.
The 1901 census lists Tommie as age 10 living with the family at house 22 in Lismoyle, Grove, County Londonderry. Thomas was still at school. His widowed mother was a dressmaker. His elder brothers were farm workers.
The 1911 census does not list Thomas as living with the family at house 11 in Lismoyle, The Grove.
Thomas Bolton enlisted in Randalstown. He was still living in Lismoyle at the time.
By the time Thomas had paid a visit to his home at Lismoyle in September 1917, he has been wounded on two occasions.
From the Northern Constitution dated 1st September 1917:
Sergeant Thomas Bolton, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, paid a visit to his home at Lismoyle. He has been wounded on two occasions.
Private Tom Bolton was serving with C Company, 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was captured by the Germans on 20th Match 1918 at St Quentin. Subsequent German P.O.W. reports note that he sustained a knee fracture due to a shot through the knee.
Bolton, Tom 20417 / Private / 9th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers C / Captured 20th Match 1918 at St Quentin / Knie Knochenbruch, (Knee Fracture) St Du Nord / Born 21 March 1895 Kalnea, Derry. Mother, Swatragh, Derry, Ireland
Bolton, Tom. 20417 / Private / 9th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers C / 20th Match 1918 at St Quentin / Schussyerletzung (Bullet wound), Knie Knochenbruch, (Knee Fracture) Sains Du Nord 8 May 1918 verstorben (deceased) / Born 21 March 1895 Ralnea, Derry. Mother, Swatragh, Derry, Ireland.
Bolton Tom. Private 9th Batt Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers C Company. 23 jahres alt (23 years old) verst (worst) 8.5.1918 infolge allgem Schwache im Hilfs Lazarett Kaserne Block I zu zerbst (due to general weakness in the auxiliary hospital barracks Block I to Zerbst)
Bolton Tom. Private 9th Batt Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers C Company. Born 21 March 1895 at Kalnea? Died 8th May 1918 following knee-shot in Zerbst (Anhalt-Bitterfeld, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany)
Private Bolton died on 8th May 1918 as a result of due to general weakness in the auxiliary hospital barracks in Block I to Zerbst. Zerbst is a town in Anhalt-Bitterfeld, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. He was reported as being 23 years old.
From the Northern Constitution dated 17th September 1918:
Boveedy L.O.L. 175. A vote of condolence was passed to the relatives of Lance Corporal Thomas Bolton, formerly a member of this lodge.
Private Thomas Bolton is now buried in Berlin South Western Cemetery.
Private Thomas Bolton is commemorated on the WW1 Plaque in Swatragh Presbyterian Church.
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Relevant Magherafelt Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Lismoyle, The Grove, Swatragh Swatragh Census listing in Lismoyle, The Grove, Swatragh 54.929396 -6.630904
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 Census lists Bolton family 1901 census lists Tommie as age 10 living with the family at house 22 in Lismoyle, Grove, Londonderry
2 1911 Census lists Bolton family 1911 census does not list Thomas as living with the family at house 11 in Lismoyle, The Grove, Londonderry
3 FindAGrave.com Photo of Private Thomas Bolton's grave
4 ICRC P.O.W. records Private Thomas Bolton POW.
Magherafelt District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2014-2023