Thomas Weeding
Thomas Weeding was born in New Malden Surrey, the son of Thomas & Alice Weeding of Kingthorpe, Addlestone and the brother of John R B Weeding who is also named on this memorial. Thomas was educated at Marlborough Colledge and entered Sandhurst in 1897, receiving his commission in 1899 and rising to the rank of Major with the 1st Btn Queens Royal West Surrey Rgt (QRWS). Thomas was a Freemason and a member of two lodges, Studholme Lodge, number 1519 and Old Marlburian Lodge, number 3533.
A keen polo player and an excellent shot, Thomas was one of the first 100 officers who learnt how to fly but had to join his regiment in Bermuda prior to the formation of the Royal Flying Corp so was unable to persue this further. Before war broke out Thomas had seen service in India, Bermuda and South Africa. At the start of the Great War, in August 1914, Thomas and the 1st Btn QRWS were at Borden Camp as part of the 3rd Brigade but by October Thomas was in Ypres and it was here he was wounded for the first time on the 31st October 1914. In July 1915 Thomas's 1st Btn became part of the 2nd Division of the 5th Brigade and took part in the Battle of Loos ("The Big Push") in North East France, which was the first time that the British Army used gas as a weapon, and on the 30th September Thomas was once again wounded. This time his wounds were so serious that he was not fit to return to the fighting until December 1916 ready for the batttle of Passchendaele in July 1917.
On 26th August 1917, aged 38, Thomas was returning to the front on his horse when a shell exploded next to him causing the instant death of both him and his horse. Thomas is buried in Coxyde Military Cemetery, which was approximately 7 miles behind the front line, south of Nieuport, Belgium.