Seventh Generation

65. Thomas MOUNTFORD served in the military 1903-1907, 1914.⁶¹ 7317 Pte Thomas Mountford served with the Cheshire Regiment. He enlisted into Cheshire Regiment 1st Battalion with Short Service at Chester on 10 Dec 1903. He returned to civilian life on 28 Jan 1907, being transferred to Section B Army Reserve. At the outbreak of the First World War he rejoined his regiment and was killed in action on 24 Aug 1914. His service record indicates:

Service with the Colours: 10.12.03 to 24.8.14
Overseas Service: India 20.9.04 to 25.1.07
British Expeditionary Force France 14.8.14 to 24.8.14
Medals issued etc: 1914 Star; British War Medal; Victory Medal

He is mentioned in the book 'Soldiers Died in the Great War' as follows:

Born Congleton Cheshire
Enlisted Chester (Biddulph Staffs)
Killed in Action France and Flanders 24.8.14

On Enlistment he declared:
Age - 25 years 2 months
Trade: Fustian Cutter
Height: 5ft 7 ins
Complexion: Fresh
Eyes: Grey
Hair: Brown
Address: 74 John St Biddulph Staffordshire
He was born on 24 Nov 1881 in Mow Cop. He appeared in the census in 1891 in 10 Bromley Street, Congleton, Cheshire.⁴¹ In 1891 he was a scholar.⁴¹ He died on 24 Aug 1914 in Mons, BELGIUM.⁶¹ He was buried in Audregnies, BELGIUM.⁶² The War Graves Commission at Maidenhead advise that he is buried in a communal cemetery in Audregnies, Belgium, Row A Grave No 9. Audregnies Communal Cemetery is located 22 km south west of Mons on a road leading from the N51 connecting Mons to Valenciennes in France. 19 km along the N51 lies the left hand turning at Quievrain onto the rue des Wagons. 4 km along the rue des Wagons, after passing through Baisieux, lies the village of Audregnies. On reaching the village the cemetery is located 800 metres along the rue la Ville, a road leading from Audregnies to Augre.

There are now 40, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, four-fifths are unidentified. All fell on the 24th August, 1914, and were originally buried on the battlefields. The British dead belonged mainly to the 1st Cheshire Regiment. The British plot covers an area of 146 square metres.

Thomas MOUNTFORD and Mary Jane PHILLIPS were married on 11 Nov 1907 in Congleton, Cheshire.¹⁴ Mary Jane PHILLIPS (daughter of Richard PHILLIPS and Annie MITCHELL) was born on 24 Nov 1884 in Wall Hill, Astbury, Cheshire.⁶³ She appeared in the census in 1891 in 68 West Road, Congleton, Cheshire.⁶⁴ She appears as 'Mary Ann' on census. I wonder if the family forgot her real name, she was known as 'Polly'. She appeared in the census in 1901 in 11 Spragg Street, Congleton, Cheshire.⁶⁵ In 1901 she was a fustian cutter.⁶⁵ She died on 29 Jul 1949 in Congleton, Cheshire.⁴⁴ Thomas MOUNTFORD and Mary Jane PHILLIPS had the following children:

119	i.	Living.
+120	ii.	Harry MOUNTFORD.
+121	iii.	Alice May MOUNTFORD.
+122	iv.	Living.