b. ? 1865 Chilvers Coton, Warwickshire. d. 02/02/1931 Burton on Trent, Staffordshire.
DATE OF EM ACTION: 20/02/1913 Burton Brewing Company, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire.
Thomas was born in 1865 in Chilvers Coton, Warwickshire, the sixth of eight children of James and Sophia Wagstaff (nee Davenport). His father was a carpenter and joiner. Thomas became an apprentice baker by the age of 14, and at 16, he was boarding with Ann Fortescue and her daughter Sarah. On 29th April 1893 he married Emma Lain at St Paul’s, St Pancras, London. Despite marrying in London, Thomas and Emma started married life in Birmingham, where he gained employment as a brewer’s labourer. They had a son, Percy Thomas Wagstaff, born in 1896. They moved to Burton on Trent, and he began working at the Burton Brewing Company. They lived at 194 Station Street in the town. Little is known about his life following the award of the Edward Medal. He died aged 65 on 2nd February 1931 in Burton on Trent and was buried three days later in Stapenhill Cemetery.
EM CITATION:
On 20th February, 1913, at the Burton Brewery Company’s Work, Burton-on-Trent, a number of men were lime-washing the ceiling of a hop-press room. On the wall, about two or three feet above the scaffolding on which the men were standing, a shaft was running, driving two cog-wheels. One of the men, named Arbon, was leaning over the shaft when he was suddenly caught and dragged into the machinery. Holliday, who was standing near, at once seized hold of him and became entangled in the gear-wheels himself. The clothes of both men were torn from them, and they were in imminent peril. With great presence of mind Wagstaff seized hold of Holliday and succeeded in keeping clear of the cogwheels. Holliday escaped with very serious injuries, but Arbon unfortunately lost his life. There can be no doubt that by their plucky action both Holliday and Wagstaff incurred the gravest risk to their own lives.
BURIAL LOCATION: STAPENHILL CEMETERY, BURTON ON TRENT, STAFFORDSHIRE.
CONSECRATED GROUND, GRAVE 8313.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
