A first world war South Downs Pals casualty medal group awarded to SD/687 Private Thomas Heasman, 11th (South Downs) Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, who was sadly killed in action on 3/9/1916 and is remembered at Serre Road Cemetery No.1.

British War Medal named to SD-687 Pte. T. Heasman. R. Suss. R.
WW1 Victory Medal named to SD-687 Pte. T. Heasman. R. Suss. R.
Memorial Plaque (Death Penny) named to Thomas Heasman

Killed in Action – 3rd September 1916

Thomas enlisted at Horsham in 1914 along with three other family members into the Royal Sussex Regiment. His service number is consecutive with other Shipley men, who had volunteered together in the “Pals” battalion, eventually becoming known as “Lowther’s Lambs”.

The 11th Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment was embarked for France in March 1916 and saw action during the Somme campaign. Thomas Heasman was killed in action at Beaucourt Ridge, where his unit was engaged in fighting in the trenches north of the River Hamel. He was one of three Shipley men who died in this action, the others being Edgar Heasman and William Lucas. He was remembered by the Reverend Baker in the memorial service held at Shipley Church in November of 1916, a year in which eight Shipley men gave their lives.

Buried at Serre Road Cemetery at Beaumont Hamel and commemorated in Shipley Church.

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