Thomas had been stationed at Euston Barracks, Fleetwood but after their marriage, Thomas and Theodora moved to Rossall where Thomas worked as a groundsman and labourer at the school. Tom was the first of their ten children. Another four children were born before the turn of the century: John (1894), Ingeborg (1896), Alfred (1897) and Louisa (1899). Sadly John died before his second birthday and was buried at Fleetwood Cemetery.
On 25 April 1896 Thomas re-enlisted in the Regiment and, following the outbreak of the South African (Second Boer) War, he was recalled to active service. He served in South Africa from February 1900 until his discharge on 25 April 1901 at the end of his five year engagement. Thomas returned home and resumed his employment at Rossall School.
Rossall School Rifle Corps became the first public school Corps to be recognised by the War Office in 1860. It was transformed into an Engineer Cadet Corps in 1890 and remained so until 1908 when it became a contingent of the newly formed Officer's Training Corps (OTC). Thomas became an instructor and also its armoury sergeant, in charge of the gunroom, munitions and the rifle range.
Two more children were born while the Tester family lived in Rossall Lane: Edward in 1901 and Richard in 1903. The family had moved to Thornton by July 1904 where William was born in 1906 and Spencer in 1909. In the Census of 2 April 1911, Thomas, Theodora and their eight surviving children were recorded at 4 Edward Street, Burn Naze. Tom was aged 18 and had left Church Road Council School to become a hotel barman. The youngest of Thomas and Theodora's children was born in 1913 and named Theodora after her 47 year old mother.
Tom's war service record has not survived but it would appear that he joined the Territorials whilst working at United Alkali. He subsequently was posted to the 1st/5th Battalion of the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment shortly after the outbreak of war. He was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal and sent to France on 14 February 1915. Tom was killed in action near Frezenberg on 5 May 1915 during the Second Battle of Ypres. He was aged 22 and unmarried.
In reporting Tom's death, Captain James Bainbridge wrote: "He died whilst bravely doing his duty, and Pte. Nesbit was with him when he died. We gave him a Christian burial last night. His brother [Alfred] was in my company with the reserve battalion at Sevenoaks, and I had no better men elsewhere."
In a letter to Tom's mother, dated 6 May, Pte. Thomas Nesbit said: "It is with deep regret that I break the news of your son Tom's death, which occurred yesterday, about 1 p.m. He died like a hero, whilst on a very dangerous duty. He and I volunteered to take a message to the rear, as our telephonic communications were broken, and whilst crossing in view of the enemy he was shot through the back and died an hour later. I was with him till the last, and his last words were of you and Miss Stanton. He asked me to write and tell you how he died. I miss him very much, as I loved him like a brother. He was a good soldier and he was well liked by his officers and comrades. Accept my condolences in your sad loss. 'May his soul rest in peace.' He was buried last night with some fallen comrades. Give my respects to Mr. Tester and the family".
Pte. Mick Carney, of Leeds, wrote this in a letter to the Secretary of the Burn Naze Soldiers' Comfort Fund: "There are a few more words I would like to tell you about the gallant little 5th King's Own, who held a position at Ypres when the Germans made a big dash to get through at the latter end of April or the beginning of May, I am not quite sure which. We had the 2nd East Yorks on our right, and they stuck well, too. We nearly got wiped out there, as there were thousands of Germans coming at us. They knocked our trenches to bits, but we stuck to our guns and kept them at bay. That's where the brave young lad, Tommy Tester, fell. I hope the poor chap is in heaven, as he deserves it. We were getting wiped out, and we could get no reserves up, as the communication had been broken. Poor Tommy was one who volunteered to go out and try and get some support for us. The other was a lad from Fleetwood named Tommy Nesbit, but poor Tommy did not go far before he fell. That is what I call a brave soldier. He did not only die for his country, but died trying to save his comrades as well. His last words were 'Good-bye' to his comrade, Tommy Nesbit, and wished him 'God-speed' to get through. If that is not a soldier and a man's action, what is? Tell his father, if you see him, that if he has got poor Tommy, he has something to be proud of, as he died a true British hero."
There were further letters of condolence to Mr. and Mrs. Tester from Tom's comrades Lance Corporal Wright and Pte. D. Porter. Lance Corporal Thomas Henry Tester, T5/1966, 1st/5th Battalion, King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, is remembered on Panel 12, Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
Tom's mother died on Boxing Day later that year at the age of 50. Reports say that she had been in failing health for about a year. Her funeral took place on at Thornton Christ Church on 31 December. Soon after, Thomas and the rest of the family moved home the short distance to 17 Hapton Street but he too died on 28 October 1916, aged about 51.
Arthur Tester appears to have joined the 1st/5th Battalion of the K.O.R.L. in 1914 and was sent to France on the same day as his elder brother. Although Arthur survived the hostilities and returned to Thornton, he died "from disease" on 22 March 1921 and was buried in Grave number 707 at Thornton Christ Church four days later. Pte. Alfred Tester, 240302, 8th Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, was aged 23 and unmarried. He had been living at 5 Rock Street, Burn Naze with his aunt and uncle, Emily and Spencer Tester. Alfred's name does not appear on Thornton Cleveleys War Memorial, nor on any other memorial that we are aware of.
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