Thomas Arthur Pillifant

Private Thomas Arthur Pillifant – Welsh Regiment, 14^th Battalion

Early Life

Thomas Arthur Pillifant

Thomas Arthur Pillifant was born in 1888 in Swansea, the son of Richard Henry Pillifant and Mary Jane Stanton.

1891 Census

At the time of the 1891 Census, the family was living at 83 Pentreguinea Road, their surname recorded in error as Pillifand. Richard, aged 32, worked as a general labourer, while Mary, aged 29, kept house. Their children were Eleanor Mary, 6, and twins James and Thomas, both 3.

1901 Census

By the 1901 Census, the family remained at 83 Pentreguinea Road. Richard, now 42, was employed as a rollerman, while Mary was 39. Eleanor, 15, was working as a dressmaker; James, 13, was a breadmaker; and Thomas, 13, was a printer’s errand boy.

1911 Census

A decade later, the 1911 Census recorded the family at 9 Thomas Street. Richard, 53, was employed as a cooper rollerman, and Mary, 50, was at home. Their children were Eleanor, 25; James, 23, a baker; and Thomas, 23, a grocer’s assistant. Also present was a boarder, Thomas Jones, 32, a general labourer.

Military Service

attestation papers

Thomas enlisted in November 1914, joining the 14^th Battalion, Welsh Regiment. His attestation papers survive, confirming his service.

The 14^th (Swansea) Battalion had been raised locally in October 1914 through the efforts of the Mayor of Swansea, the Town Council, and Swansea’s football and cricket clubs. By August 1915, the battalion was completing its training at Winchester, before embarking for France in December, landing at Le Havre.

The battalion’s baptism of fire came during the Battle of the Somme. On 10th July 1916, the 14th Battalion was ordered into action at Mametz Wood, an attack that raged until 12th July. The losses were devastating, with hundreds of men killed or wounded. In the aftermath, the battalion was withdrawn and did not return to the line for another twelve months.

Thomas was among those injured during this action and was evacuated back to Britain for treatment.

Death

On the second anniversary of the outbreak of the war, 4^th August 1916, Thomas died of his wounds at a military hospital in Liverpool. He was 28 years old.

Burial

Thomas Arthur Pillifant
Danygraig Cemetery
credit - findagrave

Following his death, the body of Private Thomas Arthur Pillifant was brought back to Swansea. His funeral and interment at Danygraig Cemetery were conducted with full military honours.

The South Wales Daily Post reported the event, noting the presence of both family and comrades who gathered to pay their respects. His coffin, draped in the Union Jack, was borne to the grave by fellow soldiers. A firing party saluted over his resting place, while the “Last Post” was sounded, marking his final farewell.

The attendance of local dignitaries, representatives of Swansea’s civic organisations, and men of the 14th Battalion reflected the deep significance of his death to the community. As one of Swansea’s own “pals” battalions, his loss was felt not just by his family, but across the city whose name the unit carried into battle.

Legacy

The story of Thomas Pillifant is inseparable from that of the 14^th (Swansea) Battalion, the city’s own “pals” unit. Recruited from the community, they trained together, fought together, and suffered terrible losses together at Mametz Wood. For Swansea families, the fate of the 14th Battalion was deeply personal, and Thomas’s grave at Danygraig stands as a reminder of both the pride and grief carried by his city during the Great War.