Thomas Mather enlisted in Chorley on or about the 19th September 1914 and is listed as Mather in the Accrington Observer list of Chorley Pals going to Caernarvon in 1915 but as “Mathers” on the scroll in Astley Hall – there being no men on the 1911 Census living in Chorley by the name of Mathers, but several by the name of Mather.
Private J. Snailham recalls “‘old’ Mather, ‘a general duty man’ now one of the Regimental Police” helping him get to a First Aid Post behind the lines at Serre on the 1st July 1916. However, no trace can be found of a T. Mather on any medal roll, service or pension records. A further comment from Private Snailham casts some light on Thomas Mather’s true identity, by recalling “He was old to me, he was a family man about forty”. That being the case he could well be a Thomas Mather born in Adlington in 1868 – making him around 48 years of age in 1916; he was married with three children, living at 16 Carrington Road in Chorley and working in a Bleachworks.
The only other Thomas Mather’s on the 1911 Census for Chorley were both aged 26.
