Wesson, Thomas Edmund (Tom)

Thomas was born in Warwick on 30th April 1906. He was baptised at St. Mary’s Church on June 19th 1906. In 1911, aged four, he was living with his parents and a 16 year old servant Margaret Padbury at 2 Broad Street, Warwick. Thomas’s father Percy was working as a clerk in the Education Office. Thomas had one sister Gladys Mary (1914-1993). By 1921 the family were living at 2 Broad Street.

At some point Thomas was living or working in Durban South Africa as he is listed as a passenger on a return journey of the ship ‘Edinburgh Castle’ sailing into Southampton in 1932. He is listed as an engineer.

In 1935 in Warwick, Thomas married Joan Alice Simmons. According to the census of 1939 Thomas was living with the Ellison family at Bank House, Easthamstead, Berkshire. His occupation is stated as a flying instructor with the RAF. Joan was living with Thomas’s parents at 7 Emscote Road. Also living there was Thomas’s sister Gladys and her husband Ralph Davies. Joan died in Bognor Regis in 2003 aged 93.

Thomas became interested in flying ‘when requested to ride as ballast in an aeroplane that had landed on Warwick Racecourse on it’s way to London in the 1930’s .. He took flying lessons at Major Bonnisken’s Aerodrome at Bishops Tachbrook’. He also briefly worked as a wing walker with an aerial circus.’

The year before his death, the Warwickshire Advertiser featured Tom in their column on Warwick men serving in the forces. On his death a much fuller article told of his colourful life.