Thomas Frank Hoskins

Story:
Thomas Frank Hoskins was born in 17th November 1891 at Kilmington St. Mary, Wiltshire (his birth being registered at Mere, Wiltshire). He was baptised at St. Mary's Church, Kilmington, on 3rd November 1892. He was the son of John Charles Hoskins, an agricultural labourer, and Rosina Hoskins (née Tullett). His siblings included Harold Percival Hoskins, born in 1884, who died at the Battle of Jutland on 31st May 1916 and Clarence Hoskins who served in and survived the conflict. The 1911 Census shows the family living at Great Yeatmans, Tout Hill, Shaftesbury, Dorset. Thomas had, however, by this time moved to Tredegar, Monmouthshire, and at the time of the 1911 Census he was single and working as a Coal Hewer. He enlisted in Newport, Monmouthshire, as a Private in the 1st Battalion of the South Wales Borderers (Service No. 11881). He served in France & Flanders from 15 Apr 1915 and was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. He was presumed killed in action on 8th September 1916 and his name appears on the Thiepval Memorial in France (Pier & Face 4 A). He is also remembered on the War Memorials at Motcombe and Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset. Their mother, Rosina, also regrettably died shortly after in 1916.