Griffiths, Thomas

Ex-Sapper

Royal Engineers

Died of disease on Saturday 26 May 1928 (aged 30)

Buried:

Belfast City Cemetery (Dundonald) Grave D2. 607

Commemorated:

Newtownards and District War Memorial

BIOGRAPHY

The name Thomas Griffiths is listed on Newtownards and District War Memorial and in the booklet produced for the Unveiling and Dedication Ceremony held on Saturday 26 May 1934 he is described as a Sapper in the Royal Engineers.  The organising committee of the day decided to include the names of ex-servicemen who died up to that date from what they considered to be war related causes, whether as a result of wounds or disease.

In some records his surname is spelt Griffith and in others Griffeth.

Thomas Griffiths was born around 1897/1898 in Ladysmith, South Africa and he was a son of James and Anna Maria (Annie) Griffiths (nee Boyd).  James Griffiths was born in County Cavan and he served as a Sergeant in the Royal Irish Rifles.  Annie Boyd was born in Hertfordshire, England.  When James Griffiths left the Army, he worked as a shopkeeper and publican in Newtownards.

The Griffiths family lived in William Street, James Street, South Street and Castle Street, Newtownards.

James and Annie Griffiths (nee Boyd) had at least ten children including:

Emma (born around 1885/1886 in Sussex, England)

Thomas (born around 1897/1898 in Ladysmith, South Africa)

Violet (born around 1898/1899 in Dum Dum, India)

Gladys Eileen (born 30 August 1903 in William Street, Newtownards)

Margaret (born 9 September 1905 in James Street, Newtownards)

Llewellyn (born 24 January 1908 in James Street, Newtownards)

Annie (born 17 June 1910 in William Street, Newtownards)

Edward George (born 14 January 1914 in Castle Street, Newtownards)

During the Great War, Thomas Griffiths served as a Sapper with the Royal Engineers and after he was discharged from the Army he worked as a barman is his father’s pub in Newtownards.

Thomas Griffiths from 14 Castle Street, Newtownards was 22 when he and Agnes Hawkins were married on 2 December 1919 in Bright Parish Church of Ireland Church, Co Down.  Agnes Hawkins (aged 27) from the townland of Rossglass, Killough was a daughter of Edward Hawkins, a labourer.

Ex-Sapper Thomas Griffiths was 30 when he died of nephritis uraemia on Saturday 26 May 1928 in Craigavon Hospital, Strandtown, Belfast and he was buried on 28 May 1928 in Dundonald Cemetery (Grave D2. 607).  Also buried in the same grave were:

Agnes Griffith (died 6 March 1959, aged 67)

James Griffith (died 5 June 2001, aged 80)

Joyce Griffith (died 24 March 2003, aged 78).

Ex-Sapper Thomas Griffiths is commemorated on Newtownards and District War Memorial.