Tom CONSTANTINE

26 November 1915

CLAPHAM – Obedient to the Call

Messrs. T. Constantine and Geo. Metcalfe have joined the 3/6 Battalion Duke of Wellington’s Regiment and left the village on Wednesday to train at Mansfield.

29 June 1917

CLAPHAM RESIDENT’S THIRD SON KILLED

Much sympathy is felt for Mr. and Mrs. W. Metcalfe, Clapdale Hall, in the loss of their third son, George. He was posted as ‘missing’ on May 3rd, but on Saturday morning news came from Private Tom Constantine breaking the sad news of George’s death in action. It transpires he was wounded severely and dropped into a shell hole, and laid there with several of his chums. On account of the position no help could be got across to the poor fellows. Pte. Metcalfe was well liked by all the company and they send their sympathy to the bereaved parents and family.

Prior to the war, the dead hero was on his father’s farm. Joining up in November 1915, he enlisted in the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, being trained at Clipstone, and afterwards at Salisbury Plain. An ‘old boy’ of Clapham School, he is the third to make the supreme sacrifice, and the seventh in Clapham and Keasden.

23 November 1917

CLAPHAM – MILITARY MEDALS AWARDED

Clapham people are proud to know that two of the village lads have been awarded the Military Medal.

Corporal Tom Constantine, Duke of Wellington’s, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. C. Constantine, wrote home from a Glasgow Hospital, where he has been suffering from pneumonia, to say that he had gained the distinction for ‘Devotion to Duty’ on the 19th of September.

The other recipient is Private Fred Constantine, Leicester Regiment, son of Mr. W. and the late Mrs. Constantine, and who gained his distinction for ‘Distinguished Conduct in the Field’ on June 15th.

Corporal Constantine joined the forces two years ago and Private Constantine enlisted three years since.

11 January 1918

CLAPHAM – CORPORAL’S DEVOTION TO DUTY

In connection with the award of. the Military Medal to Corporal Thomas Constantine, the particulars state that the honour was for “Marked devotion to duty on the night of September 20th, 21st, 1917, when in charge of a front line post before Reincourt. During a heavy trench mortar bombardment this Corporal visited the post on his right, which was suffering badly, to see if they were all correct. As he got there the post was blown in, badly wounding the N.C.O. in charge and wounding Corporal Constantine in three places. After having his wounds roughly dressed on the spot, he retuned to take command of his post. For two hours his post was heavily bombarded, but he refused to leave it until some hours after daylight, when the bombardment had ceased.”

08 November 1918

CLAPHAM – A FAMILY’S SACRIFICE: Three Sons in One Family

Much sympathy has been extended to Mr. and Mrs. Chris. Constantine in that they have lost three sons who have made the supreme sacrifice. Word came to hand on Friday morning that their eldest son, Corporal Tom Constantine, had been killed on the Western Front. Corporal Constantine was awarded the Military Medal for devotion to duty on the 19th of September 1917. Another son, Private Arnold Constantine, was killed on April 25th 1917, and previous to that Pte. Chris. Constantine, on August 15th 1915, laid down his life for his country, and Private Arthur Constantine was wounded, and has now been discharged. An uncle, Private Fred Constantine, is now a prisoner of war in Germany.

Regarding Corporal Constantine, Second-Lieut. W. Starkey writes:– “I am writing to offer you my deepest sympathy in your sad bereavement in the loss of your son, Corporal Constantine, M.M. He was one of our best N.C.O.s, and his death came as a shock to all of us in his platoon. We were waiting to go over when your son was hit by a piece of shell and he died instantly. I know this will be a hard blow to you and trust that God will help you to bear your great sorrow and comfort you in your time of need.

17 October 1919

CONSTANTINE – In loving memory of Corporal T. Constantine, killed in action October 20th, 1918.

A loving son and brother kind
A beautiful memory left behind:
God takes the loved ones from our homes
But never from our hearts.

From Father, Mother, Brothers and Sisters, Manor View, Clapham.

24 October 1919

CONSTANTINE – In loving memory of Cpl. T. Constantine, killed in action Oct. 20th, 1918.

No one knows how much we miss him,
Only those who have lost can tell
Of the grief that’s borne in silence
For the one we loved so well.
Some day we hope to meet him,
Some day, we know not when.
To clasp his hand in a better land
Never to part again.

From his loving Sister and Brother-in-law, Wharfe.