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Pte. Henry Gay Thomas
British Army 13th (2nd Rhondda) Battalion Welsh Regiment
from:Parkcwm, Carmarthen
Henry Thomas was born on the 15th April 1889, in Trevaughan, Carmarthenshire, Wales to parents Thomas Thomas and Hannah Thomas (nee Jones). He attended elementary school until the age of 14 and then worked as a blacksmith at Parkcwm with his father. He then worked with his brother John in the Lime Works at Pentregwenlais, Llandybie. After he became conscious of the call to the ministry, he attended preparatory school and passed matriculation within 18 months. He then entered Cardiff University in 1913.
When war broke out in 1914. He had just passed his first year exams, but left university and joined the 13th Welsh Regiment on 17th November 1916 when he was 27 years old. He served with his regiment for 18 months in France, when he was invalided by chlorine and mustard gas in Armentieres.
Following this he spent eight months in in Bethnel Green Military Hospital. Following his discharge from the Army in 1917, he returned to university in 1918. Revd. Thomas graduated with a B.A. in 1920 and returned to Carmarthen Presbyterian College for his final training for the ministry.
