WOODHOUSE, Thomas

Credit: Gary Newman

Gunner

Anti Aircraft Reserve Brigade

Royal Garrison Atillery

Thomas was born 1883 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, was married & lived at 133 St. Vincent Street, Ladywood in Birmingham.

Like many others Thomas did not serve under his own name (there were many reasons for this), instead served as Sidney Thomas PRATT (he may have used his mother's maiden name, which was common). He was at some point awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM).

Thomas died, aged 35, at the Parkhurst Military Hospital on the 26th of July 1918 & was buried in the Parkhurst Military Cemetery. He rests beneath a Commission Headstone alongside 88 of his First & Second World War comrades.

CWGC Casualty Record

Cemetary

Parkhurst Military Cemetery

Location

Construction of the barracks, which were originally named Parkhurst Barracks after the forest where they were located, was completed in September 1798. Shortly after completion they were renamed "Albany Barracks" after Prince Frederick, Duke of York & Albany, who had been Commander-in-Chief of the Forces. By 1807 they were occupied by the 29th (Worcestershire) Regiment of Foot preparing for action in the Peninsular War. In 1859 the Isle of Wight Rifles was raised as a defence force for the Island & stationed at the barracks.

‍
The Parkhurst Military Cemetery, on Forest Road, was established in the 1840's, replacing an older cemetery which has since been developed.

‍
The cemetery serviced the families & servicemen of the Parkhurst Barracks (later Albany Barracks) & Military Hospital.
The cemetery includes a 'Cross of Sacrifice', designed by Sir Reginald BLOMFIELD, as it has over 40 War Graves.

‍
During WW2 a number of Germany servicemen (50) (mainly crashed aircrew) were buried in the cemetery; their bodies were exhumed & re-interred at the Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery in the early 1960s. This included the body of Major General Dr Hans Volkmar FISSER of the German Air Force who was shot down over the Island on 12 August 1940 in a Junkers 88. He was a doctor of Political Science. He is buried with Sgt Jakob BIRNDORFER an ME109 pilot also relocated from Parkhurst.

‍
After the closure of the barracks in the early 1960's, the cemetery remains part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Estate managed by the Joint Casualty & Compassionate Centre (JCC) at Ijim Barracks, Gloucester although the CWGC monitors the War Graves, the MOD is responsible for its general upkeep

‍