Private Thomas Patrick Pennington. 

8683 1/5th Loyal North Lancashire Regiment 55 Div.

Killed in Action 27th September 1916, aged 20.

Thomas Patrick was born in the Sept quarter of 1896 in Burnley. The son of Bolton Pennington and Margaret Foley. In the 1901 census the family lived at 65 Bank Parade. Bolton 30 iron moulder born in Workington Cumberland, Margaret 29 dress maker, Mary Ann 6, Thomas 4, John William 2, Ellen 1 all born in Burnley and a boarder Wm Lynch. They lived next door to Bolton’s father Thomas Pennington.

In the 1911 census the family were living at 12 South St, Burnley. Bolton 41, Margaret 39, Mary Ann 16, Thomas 15 weaver, John 13, Ellen 11, Joseph 9, James 7, Margaret 4, Frederick 1 and a boarder John Walsh. His parents had been married 17 years and had had 8 children all surviving.

From The Express and Advertiser dated 14 October 1916.

PENNINGTON. Killed on Active Service on September 27th, Private Tom Pennington 8683 Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, of 1 Hebrew Square Burnley. RIP. From his sorrowing father, mother, brothers and sisters.

PENNINGTON. Killed by the bursting of a Shell on September 27th, Private Thomas Pennington 8683 Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, aged 20 years.

"Hearts that have loved him can never forget". Deeply regretted. From grandparents and Aunt Clara 63 Bank Parade.

Enlisted Feb 1916 and connected with St Mary's RC Church and School; Uncles Pte John Pennington (Boer War) and Pte William Foley and brother-in law Pte Walter Jackson serving .Killed by a German shell. Son of Margaret & Bolton Pennington. Weaver at Grays Livingstone Mill and a member of the Catholic Boys Brigade. He is commemorated on the Roll Of Honour at St John's, Ivy St.
He was killed on 27 September 1916 aged 20 years. He was engaged on road mending following a spell in the trenches, when a shell dropped on the working party. I have subsequently found out that he was south of Albert and four others were killed in the same incident - John Carroll also from Burnley, Herbert Airey from Bolton, Arthur Ogden from Oswaldtwistle and Wilson Shepherd from Bolton.

(courtesy of his niece Maureen Hesketh)

Lived at 1 Hebrew Square. Son of Mrs. Margaret Pennington,  I Hebrew Square, Burnley, Lancs.

Thomas left his effects to his mother Margaret.

Thomas is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France:  Pier and Face 11A.

Photo courtesy of George Coppock 2024