I found this photograph in my late mother's belongings last year when I was in Australia. I don't remember ever seeing it before and neither did my brother. There is nothing written on the back of it to tell us who it is. When I cam home I sent a copy to my mum's sister, auntie Joan, to see if she knew. She immediately recognised it as her cousin Tommy Tirrell and told me he was a soldier who had received medals in World War II.
August 27 1940: Battery Sergeant Major Thomas Joseph Tirrell, 2 Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. British expeditionary force. Distinguished Conduct Medal
Feb 10 1943: Lieutenant Thomas Joseph Tirrell, 1 Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, Middle East Campaign (Egypt & Libia) Military Cross. Also Bar to Military Cross.
Apr 14 1945: Temporary Major Thomas Joseph Tirrell, 3 Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, for gallantry in North West Europe, second Bar to Military Cross.
So obviously a very able soldier who was well decorated.
As for his bride in this picture, I can only find one marriage of a Thomas J Tirrell to Brenda Bowers which was in the September quarter of 1939 in Eastry, Kent. Maybe he was stationed there and they married before he went away to war. I have found a record of one child born in 1941. When Tommy received his Military Cross he was living in Deal, Kent so I think maybe this was his marriage. So far I have been unable to find a death record for Tommy.
