Radcliffe, TB
(1898 - 1916)
Key Facts
DATE OF BIRTH:
18th June 1898
YEARS ATTENDED THE COLLEGE:
1914 - 1914
HOME ADDRESS WHEN AT THE COLLEGE:
7 St. John's Wood Park
REGIMENT
8th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers
FINAL RANK:
Lance Corporal
DATE OF DEATH:
7th July 1916
AGE AT DEATH:
18
WHERE HE DIED (or was wounded)
Somme
LOCATION OF GRAVE OR MEMORIAL:
Thiepval Memorial Pier and Face 8 C 9 A and 16 A.
Lance Corporal Thomas Bellingham Radcliffe
Thomas was born on June 18th 1898, the fifth child of an insurance broker, also named Thomas Radcliffe, and his wife, Sarah. He joined Dulwich in January 1914 and was at the College until that July; during his short time he was a member of the Science and Engineering Upper 4th. After leaving he took up a position as an apprentice, which saw him working with an engineering firm based in Leeds.
Thomas left his apprenticeship after only a few months, as, in January 1915, he enlisted as a member of the Royal Fusiliers despite the fact that he was still only 16 and therefore officially underage to do so. He was at first a member of the 7th Battalion, based at Hounslow, but later transferred to the 8th, with whom he went over to France for the first time in March 1916. A few months later, on July 7th, he was killed in action at La Boiselle, on the Somme, less than a month after his 18th birthday. Although still a Lance-Corporal he was, at the time of his death, serving as acting Sergeant.
