The Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalions

Thomas Henry 'Harry' Maile.

Note

This is the only Maile that I could find on a recent visit to Thiepval and can only assume that, as noted by his family the H was for 'Harry'.

Thomas was born in Brampton, Huntingdonshire and enlisted at Huntingdon HQ of the HCB some date before the 4/6/1915 when his name can first be traced to the unit. He was given the HCB number of 207 and posted to B Company of the 1/1st Battalion of the HCB. His parents were noted as being George Charles and Ada Mary Maile of Brampton.
Thomas was at a later date transferred to France and posted into the 1/8th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment (T.F) with a new Army number of 307656 - he was noted as being a Corporal in the Royal Warwick Regiment. This number is part of a block of numbers that was allocated to HCB men that transferred to the 1/8th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment (T.F)

Thomas Henry 'Harry' Maile was Killed in Action, 27/8/1916 in France and Flanders - his age being only 25 years of age. [One entry indicates 17/08/1916].

The following are extracts transcribed from local newspapers - * indicates corrections made by his niece - Kathleen Vidal.

From a local newspaper dated 15/9/1916 Many Godmanchester Casualties. Pte. T. Maile, Cyclist Battalion, grandson of Mrs. C. Gilson[*1], Godmanchester, has received shrapnel wounds in the shoulder and neck, and lying in hospital in Shropshire. Pte. C. Maile[*2], brother of the above, ( Cyclist Battalion ) has been killed in action.

From a local paper dated 26/10/1917 = Pte. T. Males, Royal Warwicks, Godmanchester, is in hospital at Nottingham with severe gunshot wounds in the right thigh. this is the second time e has been severely wounded. The latest report from hospital is favorable. His wife hopes to pay him a visit shortly.

*1 He was not the grandson of Mrs. C. Gilson.

*2 His brother was not Pte C. Maile it was in fact Edward George Campion Maile who lost an arm but survived the war and married a girl from Yorkshire.

He is remembered on panels 9 A & 9 B + 10 B of the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing on the Somme in France. [See photo]

His name is also read out each November in Brampton church as part of the Remembrance day service.

He a great sportsman and took part in in many sports events whilst serving with the HCB and was especially good at cross country running. He took part in the HCB cross country race at Ripton, Yorkshire in February 1916.

He also won meals for his sporting activities.
He was known by his family -Kathleen Vidal - and friends as 'Harry'. Many thanks to his niece and family for the data and corrections on this page. Thomas's brother, her father, passed away a few years ago aged 94 years.
He is mentioned on a grave in Brampton cemetery as being Killed in action 17/08/1916.

If you can help with any data on this Huntingdonshire Cyclist please contact me at huntscycles@btinternet.com

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09/04/2012
.Martyn Smith © Thiepval Memorial.

Note This is the only Maile that I could find on a recent visit to Thiepval and can only assume that, as noted by his family the H was for 'Harry'.	Thomas was born in Brampton, Huntingdonshire and enlisted at Huntingdon HQ of the HCB some date before the 4/6/1915 when his name can first be traced to the unit. He was given the HCB number of 207 and posted to B Company of the 1/1st Battalion of the HCB. His parents were noted as being George Charles and Ada Mary Maile of Brampton. Thomas was at a later date transferred to France and posted into the 1/8th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment (T.F) with a new Army number of 307656 - he was noted as being a Corporal in the Royal Warwick Regiment. This number is part of a block of numbers that was allocated to HCB men that transferred to the 1/8th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment (T.F) Thomas Henry 'Harry' Maile was Killed in Action, 27/8/1916 in France and Flanders - his age being only 25 years of age. [One entry indicates 17/08/1916]. The following are extracts transcribed from local newspapers - * indicates corrections made by his niece - Kathleen Vidal. From a local newspaper dated 15/9/1916 Many Godmanchester Casualties. Pte. T. Maile, Cyclist Battalion, grandson of Mrs. C. Gilson[1], Godmanchester, has received shrapnel wounds in the shoulder and neck, and lying in hospital in Shropshire. Pte. C. Maile[2], brother of the above, ( Cyclist Battalion ) has been killed in action. From a local paper dated 26/10/1917 = Pte. T. Males, Royal Warwicks, Godmanchester, is in hospital at Nottingham with severe gunshot wounds in the right thigh. this is the second time e has been severely wounded. The latest report from hospital is favorable. His wife hopes to pay him a visit shortly. 1 He was not the grandson of Mrs. C. Gilson. 2 His brother was not Pte C. Maile it was in fact Edward George Campion Maile who lost an arm but survived the war and married a girl from Yorkshire. He is remembered on panels 9 A & 9 B + 10 B of the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing on the Somme in France. [See photo] His name is also read out each November in Brampton church as part of the Remembrance day service. He a great sportsman and took part in in many sports events whilst serving with the HCB and was especially good at cross country running. He took part in the HCB cross country race at Ripton, Yorkshire in February 1916. He also won meals for his sporting activities. He was known by his family -Kathleen Vidal - and friends as 'Harry'. Many thanks to his niece and family for the data and corrections on this page. Thomas's brother, her father, passed away a few years ago aged 94 years. He is mentioned on a grave in Brampton cemetery as being Killed in action 17/08/1916.
If you can help with any data on this Huntingdonshire Cyclist please contact me at huntscycles@btinternet.com
	Return to Soldiers Section.	Return to Main Menu.
09/04/2012	.Martyn Smith ©	Thiepval Memorial.