Private Thomas W. Marginson
The background of this North Irish Horseman is not known at present, other than that he was probably from England. It is possible that he was the Thomas William Marginson born in Preston, Lancashire, the second of three children of printing journeyman Richard Sergeant Marginson and his wife Margaret Agnes (née Mayman). At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at 207 Kent Street, Preston, with his parents and siblings.
Marginson enlisted or was called-up between 1916 and 1918. Posted to a yeomanry regiment (possibly the Derbyshire Yeomanry), on 12 September 1918 he was one of 56 men compulsorily transferred to the Corps of Hussars – he was issued regimental number 81231.
On the same day they embarked at Folkestone for Boulogne, where they were posted to the 1st North Irish Horse (V Corps Cyclist) Regiment. They joined the regiment in the field on or soon after 18 September, and were assigned to A, D and E Squadrons, joining in the fighting during the Advance to Victory offensive in the final weeks of the war.
On 5 March 1919 Marginson was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.
The subsequent story of the Thomas Marginson born in Preston is as follows. In 1920 he married Ivy Janetta Hood. Their son Walter was born three years later. At the time of the 1939 Register the family was living at 55 Victoria Street, Preston, Thomas working as a cotton mill labourer. He died on 4 November 1942 – see details in article below.
Lancashire Daily Post, 6 November 1942
This page last updated 26 December 2022.