Cause and Place of Death: Died (Pneumonia). Netheravon
BX January 16, 1915
Brantford Man is Ill at Salisbury
The announcement has been officially made that Private Thomas David Rose of the 4th Battalion, first contingent, Canadian overseas expedition, is seriously ill at No. 1 C.G. Hospital, Netheravon, near Salisbury Plain. His case is one of duodenal ulcer.
Private Thomas D. Rose enlisted in Brantford with the fourth section of the first contingent from the Dufferin Rifles. He resided at 87 Port Street, his wife, Mrs. Emma Rose, being his next of kin. He had served seven years in the Royal Navy, and six years as a private in the Thirty-Eighth Dufferin Rifles of Canada. When the call came he was one of the first to answer, and being an ex-navy man and for six years afterwards a militiaman, was felt to be an acquisition to the force.
BX January 18, 1915
Private Thomas David Rose, Brantford Victim of an Ulcer
Private Thomas David Rose, 87 Port Street, is the first Brantfordite with the first Canadian contingent to give up his life for King and Country. Mayor Spence this morning received word from the Adjutant-General of Canada that his death took place at No. 1 G.C. Hospital, Netheravon, near Salisbury Plain. Death was caused by duodenal ulcer.
Private Rose enlisted with the Dufferin Rifles and was placed with the fourth section of the first company sent from the Dufferin Rifles. He was a British veteran having served in the British Royal Navy for seven years and afterwards putting in six years as a private in the Dufferin Rifles here. His wife, Mrs. Emma Rose 87 Port Street, survives to mourn the loss and in her bereavement she will have the sincere sympathy of the whole of this community.
BX January 19, 1915
Private Thomas D. Rose will be Much Missed – Was an Enthusiastic Member of C. Company, Dufferin Rifles before Enlisting
Private Thomas David Rose, the first Brantford man with the first Canadian contingent to give up his life was one of the most ardent and faithful members that the Dufferin Rifles ever had on its muster rolls. For six years, he was a member and when during part of this time, he resided at Hatchley, which is 17 miles from Brantford; he wheeled in to every parade, not missing one of them. The late Private Rose was a member of C. Company of the Dufferin Rifles, by the members of which he will be much missed, as he took a deep interest in company affairs.
Deceased was employed as a fireman at the Massey-Harris works, residing at 87 Port Street. He was a member of Court Brantford, I.O.F., in which order he had many friends. He is survived by a wife, formerly, Miss Winegarden, of Norwich, and two children, one, only two months old, being born while the father was training on Salisbury Plain to meet the enemy of the empire.
BX February 5, 1915
Military Honors for Private David Rose – Pte. Ross Bernard Gage Writes about Funeral of Brantford Soldier Who Died at Salisbury
Details of the funeral with military honors of the late Private Thomas D. Rose, of this city at Salisbury Plain, where he passed away, have been received through a letter from L.R. Gage, 74 Richmond Street, from his brother, Ross, a member of B. Co., first Canadian contingent, this company being formed of the former Dufferin Rifles.
The letter follows:
Pte. Ross B. Gage, 11352
B. Co., 4th Batt.
First Canadian Contingent,
Bustard Camp
Dear Brother,
We are reorganized on the double company system again under Major Colquhoun and Captain Collins and are called B. Co. We moved today into B’s lines. Yesterday we buried the first of our Duffs’ boys, Tommy Rose, who after a two days attack of pneumonia died. He was 32 and left a wife and two small children, one of whom he had never seen. We buried him with military honors at New Haven, some six miles south of here. The service was very nice and the firing party did the work fine. With the drums’ muffled roll, and Last Post on the bugles, poor old Tommy was laid away, under the dear old Union Jack. The coffin was very nice, being draped in the Union Jack with Tommy’s cap, belt and bayonet on top. Pte. Lamb, A. Company was also buried yesterday. He died of exposure. This makes 450 burials of Canadians in this country. The Bulford burying grounds are all filled up with little white wooden crosses.
Spinal Meningitis is a thing of the past now. This battalion never had a case of it, but some of the other corps sure did. I received a big box of cake from home and a box of cake and candy from Berth Daniels. We had some feed last night. Last night we dug our first trench. We dug a trench 100 feet long, two feet wide and four feet deep, with a 2 ½ foot bank, sodded over in front, in four hours, with 60 men. That is some job, believe me.
Your affectionate brother,
Ross
BX February 6, 1915
Tells of Death of Private Rose – Major Colquhoun Writes Feelingly About First Break in Ranks of Brantford Boys
A letter received this morning by Mrs. M.A. Colquhoun from her husband, Major Colquhoun, who is in charge of the first Brantford contingent contained the following reference to the death of Pte. Rose, of this city who passed away at Salisbury Plain from pneumonia:
“I sent you a cable telling you of the death of Pte. Rose, who died in Bulford Hospital of pneumonia. He was sick only six days, and we thought until the last day he would pull through. He was the first Brantford man to go, and I feel very badly about it. However, I did everything I could, rode over every night after parade to visit him. He had the best medical attendance, and a first class nurse. We buried him with military honors on Tuesday, Jan. 19. My whole company marched over. We got back to camp at 6 p.m. I heard he had a mother and brother in London. I wired them and his brother came down. I sent a man and taxi to Salisbury to bring him to Bulford, about 12 miles. We Brantford boys are going to erect a small head stone with a suitable inscription to mark his grave. He was a fine fellow and a first class soldier. I shall miss him very much. I have not had time to see the paymaster about his money, but will have him send it to his widow. I wish you would call to see her. I am writing her tonight. If there is anything she wants me to do I will only be too pleased to do it, and on behalf of the officers and men, I extend our heartfelt sympathy.”
