Thomas Wright CARSON

07 January 1916

A SKIPTON OFFICER MISSING - Lieutenant T.W. Carson

Some anxiety is felt as to the whereabouts of Second Lieut. T. W. Carson, 1/6th Battalion Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, and younger son of Mrs. Carson, Salisbury Street, Skipton. He has been missing since December 28th.

The information reached Skipton on December 31st in a telegram from York, which was in the following terms:- "Regret to report you that Second Lieut. T. W. Carson is reported missing, December 28th. This does not necessarily mean that he is killed or wounded."

Inquires were subsequently made from the Commanding Officer of the 6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment, who, on January 3rd 1916, replied as follows:- "Wire received. Consider son prisoner. Have written. You should hear from him in one month."

For the present the affair is a mystery, no information being available as to how Lieut. Carson came to be missing. Men who have come home on leave since the occurrence state that Lieut. Carson was out with two men, both of whom returned. A diligent search in 'No man's land' had revealed nothing of his whereabouts.
Lieut. Carson joined the 2/6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's in September 1914, relinquishing his appointment with a firm of solicitors in South Wales. He went to France on November 1st 1915, and for a time was attached to an entrenching battalion. He only joined the 1/6th Battalion about a fortnight prior to being reported missing. 31 years of age Lieut. Carson was educated at Lancaster Grammar School and the Merchant Taylor's School, Liverpool. In South Wales he was prominently identified with the Boy Scout movement.

14 January 1916

THE MISSING SKIPTON OFFICER

The following letter has been received from the Colonel commanding the 6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment, bearing upon the disappearance of Second-Lieut. T.W. Carson, younger son of Mrs. Carson, Salisbury Street, Skipton who was reported missing on the Western Front since December 28th:-

"I have been waiting to write to you about your son in the hope I might get some definite information about him. I fear so far I have nothing to tell you beyond that he went on patrol on the night of the 27th December, about 8.45, accompanied by two bombers to inspect and report at his own request.

"When about half way between our lines and the enemy's, a flare was put up by the enemy and the party had to lie down. When this flare had burnt itself out the bombers could not see your son anywhere. He had probably moved on without being noticed, and though they searched for him at once they could not find him anywhere, and returned to report to their company officer, Mr. Clapham, who informed me by telephone.

"I immediately went to the place where he had been seen and made a thorough reconnaissance myself, sending patrols out in every direction, some half-dozen all told. No trace was found of him, and as we know he was armed with a revolver and a knife, and no firing had been heard from the time he disappeared. I concluded he was taken prisoner by an enemy patrol who surprised him.

"I sincerely hope this is the case and that you will hear from him in a little over a month's time, if my conjecture is correct. I was very sorry to lose him, as he was a good, keen and plucky officer whom we could ill-afford to lose at the present time. I beg to express my sincere sympathy, and hope you may soon have some news of him. I have asked that all prisoners taken on that front may be interrogated as to his capture, and I will let you know at once if any information comes to hand. We took two German prisoners the following day, but unfortunately they died before they could be interrogated."

04 February 1916

THE MYSTERY OF LIEUTENANT CARSON - STILL MISSING

Further communications have been received during the past few days which throw a little light upon the whereabouts of Lieut. T. W. Carson, of the 1/6 Battalion Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment who was reported missing early in the New Year.

It was stated at that time that Lieut. Carson went out on patrol duty with two men. When in 'No Man's Land' they were compelled to drop to avoid exposure by a star shell, or some other illuminant. Shortly afterwards the men missed Lieut. Carson, and although a very careful search was made, no trace of his whereabouts could be discovered.

The Battalion headquarters notified Lieut. Carson as missing and probably a prisoner. Since then a communication has been received from Major Duckworth, 1/6th Battalion, which states:- "The Divisional Commander has instructed me to write to you to say that private information has been received that your son is a prisoner in Germany, and probably unwounded. There is every reason to believe that this information is true."

Last week-end a further letter was received from an officer of the Red Cross and Order of St. John to whom inquiries had been directed. This communication, dated January 28th, 1916, stated:-

"Dear Madam, - In answer to your inquiry we beg to send you a report which, although 'hearsay' seems to bear the likeness of truth. Corporal Corbey 2486 says:- "This officer (Lieut. W. Carson) went out with two other men on patrol duty one night. The men came back and they thought Mr. Carson was following behind, but he was missing. They sent out a party and searched for him for a long time, till nearly daybreak, but all to no purpose. It was about December 20th when this happened, just after the gas attack on the 19th. I believe I am right in saying what the Colonel was out three hours looking for him. Lance-Corporal Waggett, 'B' Company told me this in hospital at No. 12 Clearing Station where we both were. Lieut. Carson was in our company. They think he must have been taken prisoner. He wore glasses and had had eyestrain and so he might have lost his way. Lance-Corporal Waggett was gassed and that is how he came in hospital. This statement shows the possibility of Lieut. Carson being a prisoner."

The relatives have made attempts to get into communication with Lieut. Carson at concentration camps in Germany, but their efforts have not yet succeeded.

19 May 1916

CARSON - Reported missing since December 28th, now reported killed, Second-Lieut. T. W. Carson, Duke of Wellington's Regiment, youngest son of Mrs. Carson, Salisbury Street, Skipton, aged 31.

19 May 1916

SKIPTON OFFICER'S FATE - LIEUT. CARSON REPORTED KILLED

Second Lieut. T. W. Carson, 1/6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, younger son of Mrs. Carson, Salisbury Street, Skipton, who has been missing since December 28th, is now reported killed. The information came from the Inquiry Branch at Geneva of the Queen Victoria Jubilee Fund Association. The letter, dated May 7th, 1916, being in the following terms:-

"Dear Sir, - We are grieved to be the bearers of sad news to you regarding your brother, Second-Lieut. T. W. Carson, 1/6th Battalion Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment. The following communication has been received from Countess E. Blucher von Wahlstatt in Berlin:- "As I see on your last list of inquiries for missing officers the name of Lieut. Carson missing near Ypres, December 28th, I write to tell you that a German officer who came on leave to Berlin in January told me that a few days before he and some of his men had found the body of a young English officer, who could only have been dead a few hours when found, had papers on him with the name Carson. They buried him with military honours and marked his grave. It was somewhere near Ypres, and was at the end of December, 1915. I am sorry not to have better news to tell the family, but if I can be of any aid in getting any more details for them I will try and find out though the same officer?" We have at once informed the Countess Blucher that your brother's photograph will appear on our sheet No. 14 in a few days, and asked her to ascertain at the Succession Office of the German Ministry of War what had become of the papers that were found on Lieut. Carson. We notice in the Army list quite a number of officers of the name of Carson, and are, therefore, looking anxiously forward to the identification of the buried officer, either by means of the photograph, or, what would be much better, by the papers found on him. We shall in any case not fail to keep you informed of the progress of the inquiry. We have called the attention of Countess Blucher to the fact that your brother wore glasses."

This letter was received by Capt. W. B. Carson, 6th West Ridings, who is at present home from Clipstone Camp on sick leave.

It will be remembered that Lieut. Carson was reported to have gone out (at his own request) on patrol on the night of the 27th December, accompanied by two bombers. A flare was put up by the enemy and the party had to lie down. When the flare had burnt out Lieut. Carson could not be seen and efforts to find him proved unsuccessful. No shouting was heard and the conclusion arrived at was that he had been made a prisoner. Many attempts have since been made to ascertain the officer's whereabouts, but until last week end no information was forthcoming.

Lieut. Carson joined the Duke of Wellington's Regiment in September 1914, relinquishing an appointment with a firm of solicitors in North Wales. He went to France on November 1st, 1915, and for a time was attached to an entrenching battalion before joining the 1/6th Battalion a fortnight prior to being reported missing. He was 31 years of age and was educated at Lancaster Grammar School and the Merchant Taylors school, Liverpool. In North Wales he was prominently identified with the Boy Scout movement.

04 July 1919

PEACE SUPPLEMENT TO THE 'CRAVEN HERALD' - CRAVEN'S FALLEN OFFICERS

SECOND-LIEUTENANT T. W. CARSON

6th Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment, a younger son of Mrs. Carson, Salisbury Street, Skipton, presumed killed on 28th December, 1915, aged 31 years.