70 Years On

I never knew my paternal Grandfather. He was killed in action seventy years ago this very day, so I thought a small tribute would not go amiss...

Tom Wear was born in Pudsey, near Leeds on 21 January 1910, the son of Walter, a Bridge Painter and Maud, a Weaver. He enlisted into the Royal Signals on 27 March 1941 and was posted to General Trade Training on 30 April.  On 21 May 1942, Tom was posted to 1st Armoured Divisional Signals - formed in 1937 by Sir Archibald Montgomery-Massingberd and initially called the Mobile Division.
Tom spent time serving in the Middle East between December 1942 and June '43.  He was held as a Prisoner of War in Italian hands before ending up in North Africa on 28th November '43, remaining there until 4 January 1944.
Tom was posted on 29 March 1944, to the 4th Training Battalion and then on 15 April to 2nd Training Battalion.
August of 1944 saw Tom posted to the Northern Command Signals before joining the 115 Construction Section.  Eleven days later, he was posted to 17 Line of Communications Signals.

Signalman 2369649, Tom Wear was killed in action, aged 35, on 23 February 1945.

His grave is one of just 101 commonwealth burials, located at the Schoonselhof Cemetery, in Antwerp.  His page on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website can be seen HERE.