John Oliver THOMAS was born in 1885 and lived in Llanelli, Wales, working for a bakery, delivering bread to shops. He accepted the Military Service Tribunal’s exemption only from combatant service, and reported to the 1st Western Company, Non-Combatant Corps, in Cardiff. He was sent to France in May 1916. On 18 September 1917, while working in a railway goods yard at Inchville, he was accidentally killed.

He is buried in Mont Huon Military Cemetery, Le Treport, France.

In September 1920, because his widow, Sarah, had not claimed the small metal “Death Plaque” and accompanying Scroll, to which all war-bereaved families were entitled, they were sent to her. She returned them, doubtless because she rejected the implication that he had “died for freedom and honour”. They were sent to her again in May 1921.