Devonshire Regiment WWI Territorial Long Service Group
£220.00-1914-15 Star 1110 Sjt. T. Hydon Devon R.
-WWI War Medal 1110 Sjt. T. Hydon Devon R.
-Victory Medal 1110 Sjt. T. Hydon Devon R.
-Territorial Force Efficiency Medal George V 267825 Sjt. T. Hydon 6/Devon Regt.
Court mounted for display
With copy folder of research.
Thomas was born in Bovey Tracy probably in 1892 and was employed as a Pottery Earthenwear worker in Bovey Tracy. Thomas enlisted into the 2nd/5th (Prince of Wales) Territorial Force Devonshire Regiment which was formed in Plymouth 16th September 1914. By the time war broke out in 1914, Thomas had probably already completed 4 years service as his service number would indicate that he enlisted either late 1909 to early 1910 and by 1914 he already held the rank of Sergeant. When war broke out he was on annual summer training camp on Woodbury Common, Exeter. He was mobilised on 4th August 1914. It appears he did not depart for India in October 1914 with the majority of the unit.
He served with them being landed with Egypt on 5th September 1915 and also with the 1st/6th Battalion. Initially his duties were 'fitness and training'. In January 1916 the Battalion was sent South to Fayoum and deployed in various reconnaissance patrols with temperatures of 100 degrees. It is possible that Thomas returned home in June 1916 to get married and then reported for duty with the 1st/6th Battalion via India to Mesopotamia. The 1st/6th Devons arrived in Basra from India on 3rd January 1916. Sergeant Hydon had been listed as sick in India but probably served in the forthcoming campaign against the Turks as listed in the paperwork. It is probable that Thomas returned and was demobilised in April/May 1919. The 1939 census records him as a 'cup maker' and he died in 1990 at Newton Abbot.
Condition as shown in photographs
