Service Number M2/116096
Service Army
Battalion
Regiment Royal Army Service Corps
Biography
Thomas Edmonds Harland was born in Leeds in 1897, the son of Thomas Michael and Mary Helen Harland and the elder brother of James Pullan Harland. Mary had been born in Linton, but in 1911, the family were living at 216 Harehills Avenue, Leeds where Thomas was a laundryman. The Harland family at this time ran The Jubilee Steam Laundry, with Thomas' father, Thomas Michael Harland, as its head. In the 1908 Kelly's Directory for Leeds their business was boasting branches at Nowell Lane, Harehills Lane, Woodhouse Lane, Hunslet Road, North Street, Beaufort Place, Fenton Street, Roundhay Road and York Road in Leeds.
By 1918, and again in 1919, Thomas appeared on the Collingham absent voters list due to Naval or Military service. He served as a Private, service number M2/116096, in the Royal Army Service Corps. He enlisted in Leeds on the 28th July 1915, giving his address as 1, Nowell Lane, Leeds and his trade as Motor Driver. Thomas underwent training and served in the UK from the 28th July 1915 until the 19th August 1915. He then went to France on the 20th August, embarking on the SS Inventor in Southampton and disembarking the following day in Havre. He was then posted to be attached to 402 Company ASC with 25th Brigade Royal Garrison Artillery.
After a brief period of 7 days leave (from 3rd April 1916 to 10th April) Thomas was posted to 491 Company ASC with 11th Corps. Later he transferred again to 403 MT Company on the 15th September 1916. His transfers and posting came thick and fast a this time, first on the 25th September 1916 to be attached to 1st Anzac HA and then on the 3rd October 1916 to 87 Siege Battery Ammunition Column as part of XIII Corps. Another move, on the 12th January 1917 followed to 363 MT Company and then to 335 MT Company on the 13th April 1917.
In full, Thomas' service record shows him at the following times in the following units:
Date | Movement |
---|---|
20th August 1915 | Embarked Southampton |
21st August 1915 | Disembarked Havre and attached 402 Coy, 25th Bde RGA |
3rd April - 10th April 1916 | Granted leave |
18the April 1916 | Posted to 491 Coy., 11th Corps |
15th Sept 1916 | to 403 MT Coy. |
25th Sept 1916 | ASC attached 1st Anzac HA |
3rd Oct 1916 | To 87 Siege Battery Ammunition Column XIII Corps |
12th Jan 1917 | To 363 MT Coy |
13th April 1917 | To 335 MT Coy |
27th July 1917 | Granted 1st Good Conduct Badge |
9th Sep - 19th Sept 1917 | Leave |
9th Nov 1917 | To 641 MT Coy. |
15th Dec 1917 | To 363 MT Coy |
29th June 1918 | To 272 MT Coy |
5th July 1918 | To 884 MT Coy |
5th Aug 1918 | To 594 Coy |
24th Aug 1918 | To 402 Coy (via 611 Coy) |
20th Sep 1918 | To 403 MT Coy |
11th Oct 1918 | To 402 MT Coy |
30th Sep to 14th Oct 1918 | Leave |
19th Oct 1918 | To 403 MT Coy |
1st Dec 1918 | To 491 MT Coy. |
Thomas was discharged from the Army on the 16th July 1919.
After the war, Thomas returned to the UK and continued in the laundry industry. In 1939 he was living with his parents at "Willow Bank" on the Leeds Road in Otley where his father's occupation was Laundry Proprietor and Thomas was a Laundry Manager.
Thomas' brother, James Pullan Harland, also served in the Great War and survived, and his sister, Dora Mary Harland, served in the Voluntary Aid Detachment.
Thomas died in 1983.
Sources
1911 Census. The National Archives. Class RG14 Piece 26974
First World War Medal Index Cards. The National Archives (WO372).
First World War Medal Index Rolls. The National Archives (WO329).
First World War British Army Service Records. The National Archives (WO363).
If you have any photographs or further details about this person we would be pleased to hear from you. Please contact us via: alan.berry@collinghamanddistrictwararchive.info