Thomas James Brock was born on 29 September 1879 in Peckham, Surrey (now Greater London), one of the seven children of William and Emily Brock. His birth was registered in the 4th quarter of 1879 in the Camberwell registration district, Surrey (now Greater London).
In the April 1881 census he was shown as aged 1 year living at 47 Brayard Road, Peckham with his mother, who was listed as of no occupation and an elder brother William C. Brock, a scholar, aged 7 years.
He was shown as an 11-year-old scholar in the April 1891 census, residing at 37 Wivenhoe Road, Peckham, London, with his parents and two siblings: William C. Brock who was shown as a commercial clerk and Edwin Brock, a 9-year-old scholar. His father was a described as a Master Mariner.
In January 1910 he was appointed as a Postman in London Postal Service (North) and in the April 1911 census he was shown as Thomas Brock, aged 30 years, single and a G.P.O. postman living in two rooms at 79 Elthorne Road, Upper Holloway, London, with his widowed mother and his 28-year-old brother, Edwin Brock who was also single and a butcher's salesman. His mother was listed as aged 53 years, a widow who had been married for 36 years and that only two of her seven children were still alive.
In September 1911 he transferred to the G.P.O.'s London (West) offices. On 22 March 1915 he left the G.P.O. and enlisted in the Royal Garrison Artillery, service number 6247. He was attached to their 13th Siege Battery when he was killed in action, aged 38 years, on the 21 March 1918.
His body was buried near where he fell but in June 1919 he was exhumed and re-buried in Plot 4, Row E, Grave 5 in the Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery, 157 Rte d'Heudicourt, 59231 Gouzeaucourt, France.
Probate records confirm that his address had been 35a Southampton Street, Camberwell, London. Administration of his estate, with a will, was originally granted to his widowed mother on 15 July 1918 with his effects totalling £257-17s-0d. She was also sent his £34-6s-7d army effects on 14 October 1918 and his £24-0s-0d war gratuity on 7 December 1919. However, administration of his estate was re-granted on 3 July 1925 to his brother, Edwin Brock, a butcher, and his effects were then listed as £81-15s-10d. He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is shown as 'BROCK, T. J.' on the Western Postal District war memorial in Mount Pleasant, London, WC1. He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website, on the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website, on page 46 of the Post Office Fellowship of Remembrance's Book of Remembrance 1914-1920, and on the A Street Near You website.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
