Thomas Wilson Culbert

Killed in Action on the 09/05/1915 on the opening day of the Battle of Aubers

MORE FAMILY INFORMATION - From the 1891 England Census - Address - St Michael, Workington, Cumberland, England - William Culbert aged 46, Violet Culbert aged 41, David Culbert aged 17, John Culbert aged 15, Agnes Culbert aged 14, William Culbert aged 11, Violet Culbert aged 9, Thomas Culbert aged 6, George McMurdo Culbert aged 5, Christopher Culbert aged 2, Jeanie Culbert aged 6 months, mothers sister Mary M Murdo aged 30. The Battalion arrived at Marseilles on the 12/10/1914. Thomas arrived on the 08/04/1915. They were part of the 21st (Bareilly) Brigade, 7th (Meerut) Division. Thomas was Killed in Action on the opening day of the Battle of Aubers Ridge which proved a disaster for Britain with shell shortages blamed. The Battle on the 09/05/1915 : The Southern attack was to be made in easterly direction by the 1st and Meerut Divisions, on a 2400-yard front between Chocolat Menier Corner and Port Arthur (1st Division would have an attack frontage of 1600 yards; Meerut 800 yards), with the objective Rue du Marais - Lorgies - Ligny le Grand, incorporating La Cliqueterie (a heavily defended German strongpoint). Southern pincer - 3.45pm : Bareilly Brigade, moving up to relieve the Dehra Dun, loses more than 200 men due to enemy shelling. 3.57pm : Meerut Division orders Bareilly Brigade to advance, even though it is clear that conditions are unchanged : few men even reached a small ditch 20 yards in front of their own front line, and the Brigade suffered more than 1000 casualties within minutes. More than 11,000 British casualties were sustained on the 9th of May 1915, the vast majority within yards of their own front-line trench. Mile for mile, Division for Division, this was one of the highest rates of loss during the entire war. According to the War Diary Thomas' Battalion had 269 casualties on this day including 3 Officers. He'd been at the front for 4 weeks. SEE PHOTOS x 10 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY 1st - 9th MARCH 1915. The Battalion War Diary states casualties on the 09/09/1915 were - Officers Killed 3, Wounded 4, Other Ranks Killed 69, Wounded 157, Missing 36. The strength of the Battalion in the trenches previous to the attack was approximately 21 Officers and 850 Rifles. Thomas was at one time an active member of the Monkland Harriers. His younger brother George was a well-known cross-country runner and at the time of Thomas' death he was in training with the Highland Light Infantry. Private George Culbert (24097) of the 2/6th Highland Light Infantry was born in Dalmellington, Ayrshire like Thomas and died at home in Coatbridge of Pneumonia and Pleurisy on the 02/08/1918 after being released. He was married to Agnes Culbert born on the 24/09/1868. Agnes received George's Pension on the 18/11/1918. Their adopted daughter Jeanie Moyers Culbert (born 06/12/1908) is also listed. George is NOT on the Coatbridge Memorial even though his wife Agnes' address is given as Drumpellier Home Farm, Coatbridge by the CWGC and the Family Plot is next to George's grave. See photos for George's Headstone in Old Monkland Cemetery x 3, Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his CWGC Grave Registration x 3, his Headstone Report x 2, his Pension Records x 4, George's Remembered with Honour Certificate, Old Monkland Cemetery and the Highland Light Infantry Cap Badge. I personally laid a Poppy at George's grave on the 27/03/2022 (Mother's Day see photos). See Newspaper clippings for letter sent to Thomas' family by 2nd Lieutenant J.O. Hutchison. See photos for Thomas' Medal Index Card, the 1891 England Census, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Le Touret Memorial, his name on the Le Touret Memorial Panel List, the Black Watch Cap Badge and Thomas' Pension Records x 2. Also see photos for one of George's grave next to the grave of the brothers father William, mother Violet, sister Agnes, her husband John Hugh Guthrie and their son Stewart. Finally, see photos for Newspaper clippings x 4 (Coatbridge Express x 1 and Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser x 3), Poppy Cross and Poppy placed by myself at Le Touret Memorial in July 2023, myself with Poppy Cross and Poppy placed at Le Touret Memorial in July 2023, 1 Poppy Cross and 3 Poppies placed by myself at the Le Touret Memorial in July 2023 (Thomas bottom left) and Poppy Cross placed by myself before I left for France in July 2023. Poppy Cross and Poppy placed on behalf of my close friend Annie Millar and her 3 lovely wee daughters Kayla, Lily and Keavie (also from Dalmellington, Ayrshire).