Thomas Doran

THOMAS (TOM) (BARDON) DORAN

Lance Sergeant 17687, Northumberland Fusiliers

Died 20th September 1917 aged 27

No Known Grave Commemorated Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium

Husband of Maud Doran

Lived 3, Herbert Street, Heckmondwike

Thomas Doran was born in the 1st Quarter of 1891 and was the second son of Alfred Doran and Emily nee Armitage. Thomas, known as Tom, also had three younger sisters.

Alfred Doran, his father, was born in 1861 and was brought up by his mother’s sister, Catherine nee Doran, and her husband Richard Bardon. This accounts for the reason Tom often used the name Bardon.

The family were living in Alfred Street, Liversedge (under the name of Bardon) in 1891 and his father Alfred was a Stone Mason. By 1901 the family (Bardon) had moved to Brickfield, Liversedge and the eldest son Hubert was working as a Rug Finisher. By 1911 the family (Bardon) were living at Wharton Street, Liversedge and Tom and his three sisters were all contributing to the family income, while Hubert had married and was living in Leeds.

Tom worked for Mr Ellis a Rag Merchant of Batley Carr before he enlisted in Spring of 1915. He was connected with St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church on Bath Road, Heckmondwike and was a member of the Millbridge Working Men’s Club.

His brother Hubert was serving with the Salonica Forces. Sadly his father, Alfred, died in 4th Quarter of 1916.

Tom married Maud Brown in the 4th Quarter of 1915 and they had a son Harold E Doran in 3rd Quarter of 1917. Tom was home on leave just after his son was born but tragically died soon after.

A comrade wrote to the family that he was ‘leading his section forward in the advance on September 20th when he was killed by a shell’. ‘He was liked by all the men who knew him and was always trusted to do his duty as a soldier’.

He has no known grave but his name is commemorated on the memorial at Tyne Cot Cemetery at Ypres, Belgium.

His name is on the Green Park Memorial in Heckmondwike. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.{MA-037}

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