A Tribute on Armistice Day – The Stereoscopy Blog

A chance purchase in 2019 of a photographic album of Lincolnshire, and the research that followed, lead me to rediscover the tragically short life of Thomas Comer, the first fallen hero of the Boston Artillery.

I am sharing Thomas’ story in photographs on Armistice Day as a tribute to the young man, 110 years after his death, and to remember lives lost at war, and those affected.

The photograph album belonging to Thomas Comer. Hiding behind the curled photograph of the Witham, is a handwritten note ‘Photos by T. Comer, 92 Mainridge, Boston, 28 Aug 1910.’

Thomas Comer was born on 13th November 1892 in Boston, Lincolnshire, England, to Thomas Henry Comer (b.1853, Fishtoft, Lincs.), a joiner, and Priscilla Comer (b. 1853, Boston Lincs., née Fletcher).

Thomas Comer stood on the tower of St. Botolph’s Church, Boston (also affectionately called ‘Boston Stump’, or simply ‘the Stump’ by locals), which is one of the most renowned local buildings due to its towering Gothic architecture, having one of the tallest medieval towers in the country, and being a landmark for fishermen. Thomas is wearing his Boston Grammar School uniform. Date 1.5.1911 – please note the dates given on the photographs appear to be when they were printed, not always when they were taken.

In 1901, Thomas was living with his parents in Main Ridge, Boston, with an older sister Elizabeth (b. 1884, Skirbeck, Boston), who was a school teacher. He also had an older brother, George Richard Comer (b. 1878, Skirbeck, Boston), who at the time was a certified elementary school teacher, boarding in Hunslet, near Leeds, Yorks. In 1903, George was appointed headmaster of Tower Road School, Skirbeck, and also became the President of the Boston and District Teachers’ Association. Thomas also had a second older sister, Priscilla Anne Comer (b. 1879, Skirbeck, Boston).

Photographs from Thomas Comer’s album, depicting his family, including his sisters, parents, and brother, Main Ridge, Boston, where they lived, and a beloved cat called Nick.

Thomas was educated at Tower Road School, Skirbeck, until Midsummer 1906, when he proceeded to Boston Grammar School, and Boston Art School. He was described as a gifted pupil and won many prizes, two scholarships and a bursary for exceptional proficiency in his work and attendance, as well as achieving many examination successes.

From Thomas Comer’s album, depicting ‘Tower Road School Children, Dedication of Flagstaff’ 1911 (top), and Boston Grammar School (bottom).

By coincidence, I purchased four early 1900s photographic postcards of Tower Road School (the original school has since been demolished), and, after scanning them, found Thomas Comer in two of the images. Thomas left the school in 1906, but his brother was the headmaster and this may have been why he was invited back on this occasion. As you can see in one of his images above, Thomas photographed the dedication of the flagstaff in 1911, when the postcards were also captured by a local photographer.

Thomas, far back row, 1st on right, peering over another man’s shoulder, and George, his brother and headmaster, with a moustache and high collar, back row, 4th man from right. Tower Road School, Skirbeck, Boston, c.1911, photographic postcard.

Thomas Comer, tallest man on the far left of the image. Tower Road School, dedication of the new flagstaff and Union Flag in celebration of the coronation, June 1911, photographic postcard. Taken at the same event as the images in Thomas Comer’s album.

Tower Road School, in celebration of the coronation, June 1911, photographic postcard. The local newspaper described the events of 29th June 1911, which are depicted in the postcards, as ‘The Skirbeck Celebration – Holy Trinity Ward. The celebration of the Coronation in Holy Trinity Ward, Skirbeck, will be on Thursday, the arrangements being as follow :- 3.30. – New flagstaff and Union Jack will be dedicated to the Tower-road Schools by chairman of the Parish Council. 4 – Tea to all school children attending Tower road School, to be provided in the Tower road Schools. 4 and 5 – Meat tea to all people residents of the Trinity Ward, 50 years of age and over, and widows of any age, to be provided in the Trinity Schoolroom, Spilsby-road. After the children’s tea three new pennies will be given to each child, together with a Coronation souvenir mug.’

Thomas was fond of sports, especially cricket, later becoming a member of Boston Town Cricket Club for two seasons, and also football, swimming, tennis and rowing. Photography and poetry were some of his other passions, as he was a noted talented amateur photographer and also released a book of poems.

All the above images are from Thomas Comer’s 1910 album. Photographs from Boston Stump are dated 4.5.1911.

Following in Thomas’ footsteps to take sequential stereoscopic photographs from Boston Stump’s tower of the Market Place and towards Skirbeck (top), towards Sessions House and the Centenary Methodist Church (middle), and looking at the ‘Stump’ from Town Bridge, Boston, Lincs., Sept. 2021.

Thomas left Boston Grammar School in 1911, and continued his education in Chelsea, London. 1910-11 is when the album was assembled, and offers a unique glimpse into Thomas’ life, including where he lived, the places and people associated with him, and his wonderful sense of humour. Whilst the album itself is not stereoscopic, I’ve included stereoscopic photographs in this article, and will add more as I am able to visit places connected to Thomas.

Self-portrait by Thomas. Photographed 9.5.1911.

Thomas studied at St. Mark’s College, Chelsea, for two years, and on completion obtained the Board of Education’s certificate as a fully-qualified schoolmaster. He was appointed first assistant master of the Alvey School, Sleaford, Lincs., in Sept. 1913; a post he held until his enlistment in Nov. 1914.

In January 1914, Thomas released a book of poems, which was available at Boston stationers for 6d. The local press described it as ‘a neat little volume of poems from the pen of clever young Bostonian, in the person of Mr. Thomas Comer, brother of the esteemed master of the Tower Road Schools.’ The review of the book went on: ‘In reviewing a small collection of poems such as these, it would be manifestly unfair and injudicious to judge them by the idealistic standards raised by the immortal, and especially when, as in the present case, the author is quite a young man. Beyond all the ambition and all the excellence of his poetry – for there is no small credit attaching to his effort – there is a perceptible residium of inexperience and immaturity . I emphasise the fact that no discredit attaches to that ; it is inevitable.’ ‘…Both from the aesthetic standpoint and from his grasp of literary history Mr. Comer is to be congratulated.’

Self-portrait by Thomas. Dated 15.5.1911.

Thomas was described as being anxious to serve his King and country from the commencement of the First World War. Adam Cartwright describes in Boston Story how initially just fifty volunteers from Boston were recruited, rising to 250 by the end of October 1914. Around 6,000 from the Borough were to serve in the armed forces, and, of these, more than 900 were casualties. Read about Boston in the First World War by Adam Cartwright.

In Nov. 1914, Thomas left his teaching post to join the Boston Artillery, proceeding initially to Luton for a few weeks training, before moving with the Battery to Elsenham, Essex. In Feb. 1915, they went on to Flanders. Thomas’ official military title was ‘Gunner T. Comer, No. 1509, 1st Lincolnshire Battery’.

After enlisting, Thomas only had two opportunities to visit home, the first for two days, in Nov. 1914, and the second for four days, in Jan. 1915.

Thomas Comer, on a visit home either in late 1914 or early 1915. Notice he appears to have aged quite dramatically in a short space of time since his 1910 album.

Thomas was described as ‘a keen lover and loved of animals’, with him adopting a stray dog during the war in a ruined Flemish town. The dog died a few days before Thomas from shell fire, and it was reported that this loss touched him deeply.

On the 23rd September 1915, Gunner Thomas Comer was making important observations with his Captain, and had climbed up to the roof of a ruined house on the Western Front. During these observations, around 1pm, a high-explosive shell burst immediately over them.

1910s stereoscopic glass slides (Verascope format) depicting French WW1 artillery. Denis Pellerin’s collection.

1910s French stereoscopic glass slides (Verascope format) depicting the horrific conditions in the trenches. Denis Pellerin’s collection.

The Commanding Officer, Jas. J. Read, Major, 1st Lincoln Battery, Royal Field Artillery, reported to Thomas’ parents:

‘Your boy was hit in the chest and arm but managed to climb down and send assistance to the Captain, whose head was badly hit [and reportedly later died]. He was exceedingly brave and though severely wounded, his chief concern was for the Captain to be fetched down and attended to. He will be much missed in the Battery and to me he is a personal loss as I have not met a more willing worker, always cheerful and always keen in whatever he undertook.’

The Sister in charge of the Red Cross Station, where Thomas was admitted, reported that he had suffered severe wounds to his chest, back and arm, and died shortly afterwards, at 3.45pm, 23rd Sept. 1915, at only 22 years of age. She stated to his family that he had been unconscious, so probably felt no pain.

Thomas was laid to rest at Lijssenthoek Cemetery, Poperinge, Belgium, with a full military funeral, where his grave, reference number III – A – 41, can still be visited today. It is here where I must thank Annemie Morisse at the cemetery, for updating the memorial page for Thomas Comer with a photograph from his album and some of my research. I must also thank Denis Pellerin for placing a memorial I made on Thomas’ grave, for delivering a photograph of Thomas to their archives, and for taking photographs in November 2024.

Stereoscopic photographs of Lijssenthoek Cemetery, courtesy of Denis Pellerin, November 2024.

Photographs and video of Lijssenthoek Cemetery, courtesy of Denis Pellerin, November 2024.

As a son of Boston, tributes were made to Thomas back home in Skirbeck, with prayers at St. Nicholas’ Church, on Sunday 26th Sept. 1915, where Thomas’ father had been a sidesman, at the time, for nearly 40 years. Prayers and tributes were also given at Holy Trinity Church, Boston, where Thomas himself worshiped, and his brother George had been a sidesman for many years. Thomas’ family received letters of deep sympathy from far and wide as a testament to the popularity of their son, brother and uncle.

Tributes to Thomas Comer can be found in Boston today in Holy Trinity Church, St. Nicholas’ Church, Boston Grammar School‘s main hall, and at Bargate Green Memorial Garden.

War memorial, Bargate Green Memorial Garden, Boston, Lincs., England, May 2022.

From Luke Anderson, Boston Grammar School: ‘Every year, on Armistice Day, the school assembles for a ceremony, and during that, Old Boys join the proceedings. One Old Boy reads out the names of the fallen 1914-18, while another reads out the names of the fallen 1939-45. So these Old Boys, forever in their youth, are not forgotten.’ As Thomas Comer is remembered at the moment of this article being published in his hometown of Boston, we remember him too, online and internationally, as well as all those cherished who have been lost to war.

Despite researching the family tree, I haven’t been able to trace any living descendants of Thomas’ siblings, and I suspect this is why such a precious album escaped the family. If by chance they exist, and any of you are reading this, please get in touch. It’s been an honour to share Thomas’ story, but I hope to return the album to where it belongs.

Thomas Comer, 1914, extract from ‘To the Swallow’:

Whene’er I see you skim the lake, The bane of murm’ring flies, Or rise aloft with speed and make Soft twitterings in the skies; There is envy in my breast, That I may not arise like you Nor deeply in the azure blue Sink all my cares and rest. You know no trouble. In the air Could anything so light And swift as you be weighed by care? All in your life is bright. Enjoy it birdie while you may, Death’s fatal darts are all too sure, No failure know they nor delay when once your day is o’er.

Lest we forget.

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Some of the sources used for this post:

‘A Boston Poet’, Lincolnshire Standard and Boston Guardian, 17th Jan. 1914.

‘Death of Gunner T. Comer, R.F.A., of Boston’, Lincolnshire Standard and Boston Guardian, 2nd Oct. 1915.

‘The Late Gunner T. Comer’, Sleaford Gazette, 2nd Oct. 1915.

With thanks to: Denis Pellerin, Annemie Morisse – Lijssenthoek Cemetery, Luke Anderson and Becky Reeve – Boston Grammar School.

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