Private Thomas McCarthy.
16967 6th East Lancashire Regiment.
Missing in Action 9th August 1915, aged 23.
(Thomas’s Brother James died 6th July 1915)
James was born about 1892 in Burnley, Lancs. The son of John McCarthy and Mary Quinlan. In the 1901 census the family were living at 26 Leyland Rd, Burnley. John 46 weaver born in Ireland, Mary 46, Michael 13 both born in Ireland, Dennis 21, Margaret 17, John 15, Mary 13, Thomas 7 and Nellie 5, all born in Burnley.
In the 1911 census the family now lived at 27 Leyland Rd. Mary 54, Michael 33, Dennis 31, John 25, Thomas 18, Ellen 15. Their parents had been married 34 years had 9 children and 1 having previously died.
By Catherine Blakeley
The McCarthy brothers of Leyland Rd are my Mums Uncles, as is P Lavin (my Great Uncles) I have a copy of the Burnley Express with the article A family hard hit. My Grandmother called her first son James (who died in childhood) and her other son Thomas (who is now 87) after her two brothers who died. My mum can still remember her Uncle Mick of 11 Leyland Rd looking after her as a child whilst her mother worked in the factory at the top of Leyland Rd (my mum lived at 21).
From the Burnley Express dated 1915: NEWS WANTED - YOUNG BURNLEY SOLDIER MISSING
Mrs. McCarthy, of 11, Leyland road, Burnley, is desirous of obtaining definite news of her youngest son, Pte. Thomas McCarthy, of the 6th Batt. East Lancashire Regiment, who has been missing since August 9th. Pte. McCarthy, who is 23 years of age, was formerly employed at Towneley Colliery. His brother, Pte. James McCarthy, of the 1st East Lancashire Regt., was killed on July 6th, while another brother, Pte. John McCarthy, also of the 6th Batt., has lost an eye in action, and is still in hospital. Sergt. M. McCarthy, another brother, has also been wounded, but has recovered, and is now at Salenika.
Mrs. McCarthy has received the following letter from Lieut. Hugh Kelly; -- "I have made every effort in my power to trace your beloved son. I found out from Sergt. Taylor, of the machine gun section, that he was wounded in the head and also in the body, and he wandered off towards the dressing station a long way behind us. God in Heaven only knows what became of him afterwards. I hope you will put your trust in God, and hope for the best. If I ever find out any news of him I will let you know at once, as I thought a great deal of your son. Give my best wishes to your other boys."
From the BurnleyExpress and Advertiser, dated March 14, 1917: NOW PRESUMED DEAD. MISSING IN EASTERN CAMPAIGN.
On Saturday Mrs. McCarthy, of 11, Leyland road, Burnley, received a communication from the War Office, stating that her youngest son, Pte. Thomas McCarthy, of the 6th East Lancashire Regiment who was reported missing in the East since August 9th, 1915, is now presumed to have been killed on that date.
Pte. McCarthy, who was 23 years of age, was formerly employed at Towneley Colliery. His brother Pte. James McCarthy, of the 1st East Lancashire Regt. was killed on July 6th, while another brother, Pte. John McCarthy, also of the 6th Batt., has lost an eye in action. Sergt. M. McCarthy, another brother has also been wounded. At the time Thomas was reported missing, Mrs. McCarthy received the following letter from Lieut. Hugh Kelly; -- "I have made every effort in my power to trace your beloved son. I found out from Sergt. Taylor, of the machine gun section, that he was wounded in the head and also in the body, and he wandered off towards the dressing station a long way behind us. God in Heaven only knows what became of him afterwards. I hope you will put your trust in God, and hope for the best. If I ever find out any news of him I will let you know at once, as I thought a great deal of your son. Give my best wishes to your other lads."
From the Burnley Express and Advertiser, dated March 17, 1917: FAMILY THAT HAS BEEN HARD HIT. -- TWO BROTHERS KILLED, TWO WOUNDED, COUSIN MISSING.
A family very hard hit by the war is that of the McCarthy's, one of whom as announced Wednesday's issue, has now been presumed dead, after beig missing at the Dardenelles from August 9, 1915. It is a remarkable record of four brothers and a cosuin. All were in the East Lancashire Regt. Two brothers have now been killed; one has lost his left eye but is still serving; whilst the cousin, Pte. Lavin, has been reported wounded and missing since July 1st last, and there are no hopes that he is alive, as nothing has been heard of him, either officially or otherwise since. The unmarried McCarthy brothers lived at 11, Leyland Road, and the cousin (the only cousin) resided with his widowd mother in Pitt Street. Two of the brothers, John and Thomas, and the cousin enlisted within three days of each other.
The eldest of the McCarthy brothers is Sergt. Michael, who is forty years of age. He served in the Boer War, and was a reservist when the present war began with the 3rd East Lancashire Regt. He was on going out attached to another battalion, and has been wounded twice -- once at Neuve Chapelle and once at Salonika. He has now been in hospital at Salonika for the past eight months. He is unmarried.
Denis McCarthy, the second brother, has been rejected for military service, but he is working munitions.
The third, Pte. James McCarthy, who was 33 years old at the time he was killed, was with the 1st East Lancashire Regiment, and previous to joining the Army worked at Cooper's Foundry. He was married. He was killed at Ypres on July 6th 1915. He was a reservist having been with the colours seven years. He went through the Boer War. He left three little children, and on his dead body was found a photograph of his wife and children.
John McCarthy, the fourth son who is 32 and married, and belongs to the 6th East Lancashire Regiment lost his left eye through a bullet wound received at the Dardanelles’. He was just coming out of the trenches when he was hit. He was taken to a hospital at Port Said, and afterwards came to a hospital at Brockenhurst, Hants. Pte. John McCarthy is still serving, being at the headquarters at Plymouth. He was formerly a joiner's labourer.
The fifth brother, Thomas is now presumed to have been killed after being missing at the Dardanelle’s since August 9th 1915. He was 23 years of age then, and previously was employed at Rowley Colliery. At the time he was missing a comrade said he was wounded in the head and body, and then disappeared.
Their cousin, Pte. John Lavin, also of the East Lancashire Regiment was wounded and has been missing since July 1st. It is feared that he is dead.
The McCarthy family are connected with St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church.
Lived at 11 Leyland Road.
Thomas left his effects to his father John.
Thomas is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli: Panels 114 to 118.