Horace Thomas made his Wales debut in the 3-0 defeat by the Springboks in Cardiff in 1912. He served in the Calcutta Harbour Defence Force while working in India prior to World War I and was a Temporary 2nd Lieutenant with the 11th Battalion, Rifle Brigade on the Somme when he was killed in action on 3 September, 1916, aged 26. In Memory of Second Lieutenant HORACE WYNDHAM THOMAS 14th Bn. attd. 16th Bn., Rifle Brigade who died age 26 on 03 September 1916 Son of the Rev. Morgan Thomas and Mary Priscilla Thomas, of Bettws Rectory, Bridgend, Glam. Educated at King's College Cambridge (B.A.), 2nd Class History Tripos. Rugby Blue and Welsh Rugby International; Cambridge Cricket Crusader and Member of the Cambridge University Dramatic Society. Engaged in the Mercantile Service, Calcutta, for 3 years, which he voluntarily gave up to join the Forces in 1916. Remembered with honour THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Second Lieutenant Horace Wyndham Thomas of the Rifle Brigade was the son of the rector of Bettws (St. David’s Church, Bettws, Bridgend) and his wife, and had by the age of 26 achieved a great deal. He had taken his degree in History at King’s College Cambridge, after winning a choral scholarship, won a Blue at rugby, and played for the university second team at cricket as well as performing for the dramatic society, and being an outstanding athlete. He also won two caps for Wales at outside half playing for both Blackheath and Barbarians before going to Calcutta to work for three years. His replacement in the Welsh team was also from School. Clem Lewis (1890-1944) played for Wales before and after the war winning 11 caps and captaining his country twice. Wyndham Thomas was captain of the Calcutta Football Club, whose funds were to provide the silver for Calcutta Cup when it was dissolved in 1920, and was remembered for beautiful singing voice. He volunteered in 1916 and died in September on the Somme. His body was not recovered, and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, and at St David’s Church, Bettws. His family shows a commitment to the war that was common – his sister Rosalind served as a burse, one brother John was invalided out of the Army in 1915 after two serious wounds and died in 1920 from their effects, while his other brother Morgan served in the Royal Engineers and won the Military Cross. In his last letter home, Wyndham Thomas wrote : ‘ Without wishing to be dramatic or boastful, I can say, truthfully that I am not afraid of death, my life has been a happy one – thanks to you all from the bottom of my heart. ‘
In 2001 four pupils from Ynysawdre School wrote An Exceptional Young Welshman, an autobiographical booklet of H W Thomas. Gareth
