Memorial tablet in St Mary's church, Ashley, dedicated to Thomas Letts Berry, killed in WWI.
Inscription -
Thomas Letts Berry
Neuve Chapelle 1915"Thomas was the son of Robert Kendall Berry and Mary Rose Berry nee Letts.
Robert was a farmer and grazier with a farm in Slawston, Leicestershire, although he later transferred the management of the farm to his eldest son, Joseph, and then lived at the Manor House, Ashley, Leicestershire.
Robert was born in Medbourne, Leicestershire, in about 1834 and Mary Rose Letts was born in 1846 (O/N/D Kettering). They were married at St George's Church, Hanover Square, London, in 1867 (J/A/S) and had thirteen children: Rose Ann b. 3 February 1868, Elizabeth b. 1869 (bap. Slawston 7 June 1874), Joseph William b. 1870 (O/N/D Uppingham), Mary Emma b. 25 April 1872, Robert Ernest birth registered 1874 (J/F/M Uppingham), Arthur Francis b. 11 October 1875, George birth registered 1877 (J/F/M Uppingham), William b. 1878 (A/M/J Uppingham), Thomas Letts b. 14 March 1880, Annie Kendall b. 2 August 1881, Frederick Edmund b. 29 November 1882, Philip Kendal and Olive Margaret b. 13 February 1885. All the children were born in Slawston.
The fifth son, William, served in the 4th Btn Imperial Yeomanry (900 Private), South Africa Field Force, and was killed on 29 May 1900 at Biddulphsburg.
In 1881 Thomas (abt. 1 year) was living at 13 Main Street, Slawston, with his parents and siblings Elizabeth, Mary, Robert, Arthur, George and William, but by 1891 had moved with his parents and siblings Rosie, Frederick and Philip to the Manor House, Ashley. The same year his older brother Joseph, now running the family farm, was living at 12 Main Street, Slawston, with his siblings, Elizabeth, Mary, William, Annie and Olive.
Thomas has not yet been traced on the 1901 Census but in 1906 (A/M/J Newark) he married Mary Alissimon Kirk (b. 1876 A/M/J Newark).
In 1911 Thomas (31) and Mary (34) were living with his parents at The Manor, Ashley. Also in the household on the night of the census were his unmarried sisters Rosie (43), Elizabeth (42) and Olive (25).
Thomas' father, Robert Kendall, died on 18 October 1916; the family home was still at the Manor House, Ashley. Robert's sons, Joseph (a grazier), Robert (a brewer) and Arthur (an electrical engineer) were awarded Probate; Robert Kendall's estate amounted to £49710.
His mother, Mary Rose, died on 2 November 1928. She was still living at the Manor House, probably with her eldest son Joseph and his family. Probate was awarded to Joseph (a farmer) and Arthur (an electrical engineer).
Thomas' widow, Mary Alissimon, never remarried and was living on Swinderby Road, North Collingham, at the time of her death at the age of 72 on 29 January 1949. She was buried in All Saints churchyard, North Collingham. Probate was awarded to three people including Thomas Hugh Kirk Berry, a barrister-at-law. Thomas Hugh Kirk may have been Mary and Thomas' son. He was born on 1 July 1912 (J/A/S Newark, mother's maiden name Kirk) and married Mary EP Weller in 1939 (J/A/S Kensington, London). His name appeared in the Supplementary to the London Gazette 23 January 1940; Regular Army (Emergency Commissions etc), Yeomanry: East Riding Yeo., Thomas Hugh Kirk Berry (117257). He died in the year 2000 (Mar Bedford) aged 87.
Of his suriviving siblings:
Rose Ann did not marry and in 1939 at then time of the England & Wales Register was living in Worthing, Sussex, probably in a boarding house. She was described as of 'independent means'. Rose died in Worthing on 25 July 1960 aged 92. Probate was awarded to her youngest sister, Olive Margaret Berry and a solicitor.
Elizabeth has not been traced after 1911.
Joseph married Annie Elizabeth Wade in 1900 (A/M/J Ashby de la Zouch) and the had several children. He died on 17 April 1954; he was still living at the Manor House, Ashley.
Mary Emma married William Avery Gillsonon 27 November 1901 (Ashley, Northants). Mary, now a widow, died on 2 April 1949; she was then living in Fleckney, Leciestershire. Probate was awarded to her brother, Joseph (a farmer).
Robert Ernest died on 8 September 1920 (J/A/S Newark) aged 46; he was then living on North Gate, Newark, Nottinghamshire. Probate was awarded to his widow, Emily Jane Berry.
Arthur Francis was living at 45 Marine Parade, Brighton, with his wife, Esther, in 1939. He died on 3 June 1958; he was still living at the same address in Brighton.
George probably died in 1926 (Middlesex).
Annie married Philip T Howes in 1919 (J/F/M Bromley Kent) and died in 1969 (J/F/M Biggleswade).
Frederick Edmund was living in Ealing in 1939 with his wife Barbara Ann Breck. He died on 23 June 1965; his wife survived him.
Philip Kendal married Mabel Hannah Fisher in 1910 (A/M/J Market Harborough). He died on 3 January 1970 (J/F/M Kettering).
Olive Margaret did not marry and died on 20 May 1977 aged 92. She was then living at The Willows, Coventry Road, Market Harborough.
Employment/Hobbies - 1911 - Barley Merchant and Agent
Date of death - 13 Mar 1915
Age at death - 34
CWGC Commonwealth Grave No 268037 - CWGC Website (
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Service number - 17480
Address given on enlistment -
Newark on Trent Nottinghamshire. He enlisted in Nottingham
Rank - Corporal
Military Unit - 1st Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment)
Military History -
Thomas Letts Berry probably enlisted in September 1914 and arrived in France on 6 March 1915.
Thomas was wounded on 12th March during the Battle of Neuve Chapelle and evacuated to the 25th Field Ambulance, Estaires, where he died of his wounds on 13 March, the day before his 35th birthday. He is buried in Estaires Communal Cemetery and Extension, Nord, France (2.M.2).
Thomas qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The enemy attacked at 5am in great numbers and hand to hand fighting took place with high casualties on both sides. Eventually the German attack was turned back. Private Jacob Rivers who won a Victoria Cross during this action but did not survive the day. The battalion sustained casualties exceeding 50% during the battle of which 193 had been killed. Some 600 German dead were also counted and the Foresters took some 50 wounded enemy prisoners. ]
Extra Information -
Personal inscription, CWGC headstone: 'Of North Collingham Notts. Born Mar. 14th 1880 Dearly loved husband of MA Berry. RIP.'
WMA 27128. Memorial stained glass window in Collingham All Saints Church. Dedication on brass plaque below the window reads: 'To the Glory of God and in loving memory of Thomas Letts Berry of this parish. Born March 14th 1880 died March 13th 1915 of wounds received in action at Neuve Chapelle - laid to rest Estaires Cemetery, France.' Description of stained glass window from WMA record: ‘Mee (1937) describes this window which ‘has a choir of red winged angels hovering above, while our Lord in a gleaming gown of rose and gold appears to Mary kneeling in a rich blue robe.' This window is in the memory of Thomas Berry, the first man of the village to offer himself for the war [Great War] and the first to fall’.
Registers of Soldiers' Effects: His executors were his widow Mary and brother Frederick.
Probate: Berry Thomas Letts of North Collingham Nottinghamshire corporal 1st Sherwood Foresters died 13 March 1915 at 25th Field Ambulance Estaires Northern France Probate Nottingham 29 June to Mary Alissimon Berry widow and Frederick Edmund Berry [brother] engineer. Effects £2785 5s. 4d.
Probate: Berry Mary Alissimon of North Collingham Nottinghamshire widow died 30 January 1949 at Swinderby-road North Collingham Probate Nottingham 20 May to Thomas Hugh Kirk Berry barrister-at-law Robert Hunt Bradley of no occupation and Henry Hedderly bank accountant. Effects £28807 13s. 3d."
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