Source: SS Caronia Passenger Manifest. 1919.
Family Search: Private Frederick F. Thomas was born on 14 March 1899, in London, England, United Kingdom as the son of Henry Thomas and Ellen. He married Rebecca Ann McCord on 12 October 1926, in Lambton, Ontario, Canada. They were the parents of at least 1 son. He immigrated to Canada in 1909 and lived in Kerwood, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada in 1915 and Sarnia, Sarnia, Lambton, Canada West, British North America in 1931. He registered for military service in 1915. In 1920, his occupation is listed as linesman, sarnia hydro-electric commission in Sarnia, Lambton, Ontario, Canada. He died on 25 April 1953, in Sarnia, Lambton, Ontario, Canada, at the age of 54, and was buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Sarnia, Lambton, Ontario, Canada.
Private Frederick Thomas, reg. no. 845364.
This man enlisted with the 149th Battalion at Watford, Ontario on 29 January 1916.
He showed his year of birth as 1899. He may have been under age.
He was a Farmer following the Methodist faith living at Kerwood, Ontario.
He arrived in England on 7 April 1917 aboard the SS Lapland and began the next stage of his training Bramshott Camp when he was transferred to the 25th Reserve Battalion.
He was transferred to the 161st Battalion at Witley on 1 June 19117 and earned a Good Conduct Badge on 29 January 1918.
A month later he was transferred to the 18th Battalion and began his trip “overseas” to the Continent.
He arrived “in the field” on 15 March 1918.
He suffered from a Pyrexia of Unknown origin on 22 May 1918 and it was severe enough to require treatment and he was shipped to the United Kingdom aboard the AT Wanilda on 1 June 1918.
After treatment he was returned to the 18th Battalion leaving Witley Camp on 25 September 1918 arriving “in the field” on 4 October 1918.
He was attacked to POW Camp at “WAHM” on 31 December 1918 and returned to the 18th Battalion on 18 January 1919.
Returning to his Battalion he served the rest of the war with the 18th Battalion and he was discharged due to demobilization on 28 March 1919 at London, Ontario.
News Clipping
Sarnia Man Dies in Fall From Ladder
Injuries Prove Fatal To Fred Thomas, Hydro Linesman
From The Star’s Sarnia Bureau
SARNIA—A 20-foot fall from a ladder resulted in the death today of Fred Thomas, 55, of 140 Dundas street.
FRACTURED SKULL
Employed for 33 years as a linesman for the Sarnia Hydro-Electric Commission, Mr. Thomas was installing a new hydro service in a building at the corner of Front and George streets when he tumbled from the ladder to the sidewalk. He died a few hours later at Sarnia General Hospital of a fractured skull.
Mr. Thomas was said to have received head and shoulder injuries from the fall.
It was thought that he had not attached his safety belt to the ladder and fell when leaning back to perform his work.
WAR VET
Mr. Thomas was born in England and came to Canada as a child. He served with the 149th Battalion overseas during World War I, and had resided here since the end of that war. He was a member of Tuscan Lodge, No. 437, A. F. and A. M.; Branch 62 of the Canadian Legion, and the Point Edward Service Club.
Surviving are one son, William H. Thomas, Toronto; four sisters, Mrs. S. C. Pratt, Mrs. Andrew Allen and Mrs. J. V. Mumford, all of Sarnia, and Mrs. Margaret Canfield, of Birmingham, Michigan. Mrs. Thomas died suddenly in January, 1951.
The body is resting at the D. J. Robb funeral home, where the funeral will be held Monday, at 3:30 p.m. Burial will be at Lakeview Cemetery.
The Windsor Star
Sat, Apr 25, 1953 ·Page 4
Sat, Apr 25, 1953 ·Page 4/
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 