Pte Thomas Henry Blunt 5568852
2nd Battalion Devonshire regiment
Summary
Thomas Blunt, born 1913 in Liverpool, enlisted into the Wiltshire regiment in 1933. He was still a serving soldier when the war began, having spent most of his service in India and Singapore. In 1943 he was posted back home due to a medical issue arriving late April. On the 12th of June 1944, he was sent to France and transferred to the Devonshire Regiment (on the 14th). On the 11th or 12th of July 1944, near Hottot, he was wounded and taken prisoner. He spent the remainder of the war in Stalag XIID Trier/Petrisberg. He was released from the army in February 1946 and settled in Birmingham with his wife (married 1943) and three children. He died in 1988.
[See the images – click on the pictures to enlarge the image]
Early Life
Thomas Henry Blunt was born in Liverpool on 3rd of December 1913 (registered in West Derby January 1914). The family name was Blount, and it is said in the family that he was registered Blunt as the registrar misheard the name.
The 1921 census lists a T H Blunt that may well be him (to be looked at next time at NA).
We know little of his early life until he joined the army in 1933 – he was still a serving soldier when war broke out in 1939 having signed on for nine years. He ended up serving twelve.
Service Life
BBlunt joined the Wiltshire Regiment in Liverpool. His attestation was on the 27th of June 1933.
[See the Wiltshire Regimental badge]
He obtained his third class education certificate in September of that year.
He trained with No. 10 Battalion until January 1934 when he was posted to No. 2 Battallion.
18th of January 1935 he was posted to No. 1 Battalion in Singapore.
In February 1936 he moved to India where he remained until June 1943 (the period from the 1st of February 1936 to the 31st of March 1939 being counted as “Indian” service).
During this period he pursued his education achieving his second class certificate in 1938 and the reading section towards a first class certificate in 1939.
He was made Lance Corporal unpaid on the 14th of January 1941.
On the 29th of July 1942, the battalion moved back to Singapore from Lucknow.
28th of October 1942 he becomes a paid Lance corporal.
He is docked a days pay for being AWOL 22.00hrs 13 November to 08.15hrs 14 November (celebrating promotion?).
12th to 28th April 1943 he was in hospital, the copy of the service record we have does not specify the cause.
Seemingly due to this medical issue the service record is marked “embarked for ”M-112”” and Blunt reverts to private in rank with effect from then. I believe that means that he takes medical leave at this point and returns to England.
His service record seems to say HOME 23.6.1945 to 11.6.1944 – clearly the first date should read 1943. On the 19th of July 1943 he is posted to No. 4 Battallion and formally relinquished the rank of Lance Corporal. Then on the 27th of July 1943 his record is marked name changed to BLUNT.
We know from his daughter that on the 2nd of October 1943, “whilst on leave”, he marries. His wife was from Birmingham (Warwickshire, England) – the sister of a fellow soldier. They had been in a pen pal relationship for three years but his daughter relates that the wedding was a mere six weeks from the first time they met in person. Their son was born 9 months later – on the very day that Blunt was captured – and it was two years before his father saw him. Sadly that son passed away in 2003.
On the 13th of May 1944 Blunt is posted to 41 RHU (Reinforcement Holding Unit).
Time in Normandy
Blunt arrived in Normandy on the 12th of June and was assigned to the Devonshire Regiment on the 14th.
On the 11th or 12th of July 1944 he was captured near Hottot.
[See the Capture Site Blog]
31st of July reported as a PoW in German hands (confusingly a further mark-up is made 21st August).
PoW Life
Blunt was held in Stalag XIID Trier/ Petrisberg (where Jean-Paul Sartre was held 1940-41) located on the Petris Hill overlooking Trier. Prisoner number 70490.
It seems in January 1945 he was moved to Stalag IVF Hartsmanndorf and employed at a work camp G123 near Zietz clearing bomb damage. On his returning PoW questionnaire he mentions prisoners being kicked and struck with rifle butts there.
His daughter told us that he would not talk about his time as a PoW.
The camp was liberated by the Americans and his service record tells us that Blunt was back in England by 27 April 1945.
[See the Returning PoW Questionnaire]
He was constantly writing to his wife throughout his period of service, however his wife took the view that these letters were personal to them and they were destroyed on his death.
Post War
28 October 1945 he starts his release leave returning 23 December when his record is marked overseas duty until 16 February 1946, at which point he is placed on the reserve.
On release from the army Blunt settled in Birmingham. In Hockley and then Acock’s Green.
He had two further children – both daughters.
He died in 1988.
Research Done
Other Links
Blunt shed writing and war pictures [return to info]
Wiltshire Regimental Badge [return to info]
Blunt Military Record [return to info]
Devonshire Regimental Badge [return to info]
Blunt PoW card [return to info]
Blunt returning PoW questionnaire [return to info]
Blunt post-war [return to info]
