Tom Black

1891 – 1918

Lance Corporal. Service N° 45064

Died on 12 Oct 1918 Tom died while a prisoner of war near Kassel in Germany.

Royal Engineers

The Royal Engineers (RE), often known as the “Sappers,” were a vital component of the British Army during World War I, providing essential engineering and technical support across all theaters of the conflict. Tasked with a wide range of duties, they constructed and maintained trenches, bridges, railways, and roads, while also digging tunnels for mining operations to undermine enemy positions, notably at Messines. The RE facilitated communications by laying telephone lines, managed water supply and fortifications, and developed innovative technologies like early tanks and chemical weapons defenses. Operating under constant threat of enemy fire, their work enabled troop movements, supported artillery, and shaped the battlefield, particularly on the Western Front. With units ranging from field companies to specialized tunneling and signals sections, the Royal Engineers’ expertise and adaptability were indispensable to the British Expeditionary Force, ensuring operational success despite the war’s immense logistical and environmental challenges.

Meet the Family

Niederzwehren Cemetery

Langes Feld, 34134 Kassel, Germany

Military Medal

The Military Medal (MM), established in March 1916 during World War I, was a prestigious British gallantry award bestowed upon non-commissioned officers and other ranks of the British Army for acts of bravery in combat on land..

Introduced to recognize courageous actions that did not quite merit the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the MM was frequently awarded to soldiers of units like the Northumberland Fusiliers, Royal Engineers, and Machine Gun Corps for feats such as rescuing wounded comrades under fire, holding critical positions against overwhelming odds, or performing vital tasks in the face of intense enemy action on the Western Front. Over 115,000 MMs were awarded during the war, reflecting the extraordinary valor displayed by ordinary soldiers in battles like the Somme, Ypres, and Passchendaele. The medal, inscribed with “For Bravery in the Field,” became a symbol of individual heroism amid the grueling conditions of trench warfare, with recipients often earning immense respect within their units.

British War Medal

The British War Medal was awarded to officers and men of British and Imperial Forces who either entered a theatre of war or served overseas between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918, with eligibility later extended to services in Russia, Siberia, and other areas in 1919 and 1920..

Approximately 6.5 million were struck in silver, and 110,000 in bronze for certain labour corps (e.g., Chinese, Maltese, and Indian). The medal weighs about one ounce, and its silver composition sometimes led to it being pawned or melted down for scrap value during tough economic times post-war. It was nicknamed “Squeak” when paired with the Victory Medal (“Wilfred”) in the popular trio.

1914 – 15 Star

The 1914-15 Star was instituted in December 1918 and awarded to British and Imperial forces who served in any theatre of war against the Central Powers between 5 August 1914 and 31 December 1915, except those eligible for the 1914 Star (which covered service in France and Belgium up to 22 November 1914)..

An estimated 2.4 million were issued, including 283,500 to the Royal Navy and 71,150 to Canadians. It was never awarded alone; recipients also received the British War Medal and Victory Medal, forming the “Pip, Squeak, and Wilfred” trio, with the 1914-15 Star often called “Pip.”

Victory Medal

The Victory Medal, also known as the Inter-Allied Victory Medal, was awarded to all who received the 1914 Star or 1914-15 Star, and to most who received the British War Medal, for service in a theatre of war between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918..

It was extended to include mine clearance in the North Sea until 30 November 1919 and the Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War until 1 July 1920. Approximately 5.7 million were issued across the British Empire. Each Allied nation designed its own version, but all shared a common ribbon and the winged Victory figure on the obverse. It was nicknamed “Wilfred” in the “Pip, Squeak, and Wilfred” trio.