Thomas Alexander Brimacombe - 844090
- Sean Maas-Stevens
- Mar 7
- 2 min read
Thomas Alexander Brimacombe was born in Exeter Huron County, Ontario on 13 August 1897, son of William Brimacombe. He was a farmer by trade, and had previous service with the 33rd Regiment (London). Thomas enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 15 January 1916 at Brigden, Ontario. He began his service with the 149th Battalion (The Lambtons) as a Private.
Prior to deployment, Private Brimacombe spent time in the hospital for various illnesses. Following recovery and training, he arrived in England in April of 1917. In June, he was assigned to the 161st Battalion at Witley Camp, UK. In February 1918, he joined the 4th Canadian Reserve Battalion at Bramshott, UK. One month later, he was assigned to the Canadian Machine Gun (CMG) Depot. In August, he joined the overseas pool of the CMG and deployed to France.
In France, Private Brimacombe was assigned to the 4th CMG Reinforcement (CMGR) Pool, and joined the unit proper on 29 September 1918. On 31 October 1918, less than two weeks before the end of the war, Private Thomas Alexander Brimacombe was killed in action. The circumstances reported on his death read (ref B):
“During the operations south of Auberchicourt on the morning of October 31st 1918, this soldier was working at his machine gun position, when he was instantly killed by enemy shell fire.”
Thomas was buried in Denain Communal Cemetery in Nord, France. His headstone, commissioned by his father, reads (Ref C):
AT REST TOM
ASLEEP IN THE ARMS OF JESUS
His name is also inscribed on the cenotaph at Exeter, Ontario, remembered by the community he was born in.
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