Gloucestershire Regiment
Thomas Shott was born in Gloucester in 1881. He was the son of Thomas and Ellen Shott of Sweetbriar Street, Gloucester. His mother died very shortly after his birth and he was, at first, fostered by his aunt and uncle, Eliza and William Edwards of the New Inn, Columbia Street. His father remarried in 1885 and the family moved to Church Street, Littledean, near Cinderford. After leaving school he followed his father into coal mining.
He joined the 2nd Volunteer Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment and on 1 March 1901 he attested, as Private 6962, for service in 2nd Battalion the Gloucestershire Regiment in the latter part of the Boer War. He was discharged on 11 June 1902. For his services he received a gratuity and the Queen’s South Africa Medal with clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902.
Some time after his return from the Boer War he moved to work in the coal mines at Porth in South Wales.
He re-enlisted in the Army, soon after the outbreak of war, at Tonypandy as Private 16116, the Gloucestershire Regiment. He joined the 1st Battalion of the Regiment in France on 19 January 1915 and he was killed in action at the Battle of Aubers Ridge on 9 May 1915.
He has no known grave and is commemorated on the panels of Le Touret Memorial. He is also remembered on the village war memorial in Littledean.