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Bury Times june 28 1941
died after running at army sports
Sergeant Major Thomas long service with fusiliers
After running and gaining second place in an old soldier's race
in an army sports event on Saturday. Company-Sgnt-Major Peter
Thomas of Victoria St Bury, complained of feeling unwell and died
later, he was a forty nine years old veteran of the last war who
had spent 27 years in the regular army.
As Mrs Thomas his widow said to a Bury Times reporter on Wednesday,
this Lancashire Fusilier who had seen service in Egypt and China
had lived and died in the army, died as he would have wished to
die a soldier.
Joining the Lancashire Fusiliers in 1914, just before the outbreak
of the great war CSM Thomas remained with the regiment throughout
that war ,serving abroad and he only left the army on pension
a short time before the commencement of the present war, re enlisting
as soon as hostilities broke out between Britain and Germany ,since
September 1939 he had been stationed in England .
He was a proud possessor of the long service medal, awarded after
21 years army service, and he was a member of the Old Comrades
Association.CSM Thomas had an oak leaf on his ribbon, and was
mentioned in dispatches for his bravery during the last war .he
was very well known and respected in bury ,although he was a native
of Manchester.
The funeral with military honours took place at bury cemetery
on Thursday.
Chief mourners were Mrs P Thomas [Widow] Mrs E Thomas[ Mother]
Miss Annie Thomas [Sister] Mr and Mrs L Thomas Junior[Brother
and Sister in law] Mr and Mrs J Slater [Brother in law and Sister]Mr
and mrs J Henderson[ Brother in law and Sister]Mr and Mrs W Mitcell,
Mr and Mrs J Gee, Mr and Mrs D Biggins, Master L Thomas ,Annie
and Mavis Thomas, Mr and Mrs Kelly, Mrs Babut, Mr Alec Johnson,
The funeral was attended by the whole of CSM Thomas Company, including
Colonel T Slingsby and several officers, six warrant officers
acted as bearers, and the service was conducted by the chaplain
at Wellington Barracks.
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