A November 1918 Military Cross Group to Captain T Groarke Cheshire Yeomanry

Thomas Groake was born in Winwick, Lancashire, in 1892. He became a School teacher and, in 1911, was living at 13 St Mary St Latchford Warrington. 

 

On the 25th of October 1916, Groarke was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Cheshire Yeomanry. While attached to the 1st Bn Cheshire Regiment and now a Captain, he won the Military Cross for actions near the Sambre River on the 5th to 7th November 1918. The citation was published in the London Gazette on the 10th December 1919 and is as follows; 

 

Lt. (A./Capt.) Thomas Groarke, Ches. Yeo., attd. 1st Bn., Ches., R. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion during the advance south-west of Maubeuge from 5th to 7th November, 1918. Early in the operations he lost all his subalterns, when skilful leadership was most essential. Nevertheless, in command of two companies, he seized the ridge overlooking the Sambre, afterwards moving across and holding the railway line three kilometres beyond. His courage and determination enabled him to do this with exhausted men, and with a minimum of casualties. 

 

In the post-war years, he resumed his career as a schoolteacher and remained in the army reserve. He briefly saw service in the RASC during WW2 but resigned his commission due to till healthy in the summer of 1940.

 

Thomas passed away in 1947.