| Thomas Espey was the son of James and Elizabeth Espey. James Espey married Elizabeth Dunne on 10th October 1874 in the district of Cookstown.
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| Thomas Espey was born on 18th May 1878 in Gortreagh, Cookstown. He was one of at least four children.
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| Known Family (1): James Espey, Elizabeth Espie, William Espey (born 5th February 1877), Thomas Espey (born 18th May 1878), Annie Espey (born 22nd February 1880), Elizabeth Espey (born 27th April 1882).
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| For several years Thomas worked as a clerk at the Greater Northern Railway (G.N.R.) station, probably in Cookstown.
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| The 1901 census lists Thomas as age 23, living with family and other relatives at house 1 in Gortreagh, Orritor, Cookstown. Thomas was a railway clerk. His father was a farmer and a widower.
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| Thomas emigrated to South Africa about 1903.
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| Thomas Espey and Florence Holliwell were married on 12th November 1908 in the Metropolitan Church in Cape Town. They had two sons.
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| Family: Thomas Espey, Florence Espey, James Espey (born 9th June 1909), Joseph Espey (born 29th May 1910).
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| While in South Africa he joined the Cape Mounted Rifles.
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| Prior to enlisting, Thomas was a Carrier's Contractor and lived in Three Anchor Bay, Cape Town.
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| 1915
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| Thomas Espey enlisted with the 4th Regiment of the South African Infantry on 16th August 1915.
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| South Africa raised a brigade of four Infantry Battalions for the Western Front, in addition to 5 Batteries of Heavy Artillery, a Field Ambulance, a Royal Engineers Signal Company and a General Hospital. It is also estimated that around 3,000 South African men joined the Royal Flying Corps. The Infantry battalions were raised from the four main provinces of the South African Union. 1st Regiment (Cape Province), 2nd Regiment (Natal and Orange Free State), 3rd Regiment (Transvaal and Rhodesia).
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 6th November 1915: Thomas Espey, South African Highlander
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| Thomas Espey, a native of Auglish, Cookstown, who emigrated to South Africa about fifteen years ago, where he joined the Cape Police, and who a few months ago joined the South African Highlanders to fight on behalf of the Old Country, has been home on a few days furlough. He was one of 3,000 men especially selected by General Botha personally, to come over as an advance contingent, and they arrived in England about two months ago. Every man of that kilted corps is over six feet in height, and there are thousands more to follow later. They are for the fighting line at an early date. Before emigrating, this now Colonial Highlander was a booking clerk at the Northern Counties Railway Station, Cookstown.
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| The 4th Regiment was unique in its formation. Known as the South African Scottish, it was raised from the Transvaal Scottish and Cape Town Highlanders and wore the Atholl Murray tartan as part of their uniform.
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| 1916
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| In May 1916 he sent a birthday card home to his son, Joseph.
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| While in France the entire Brigade came under orders from the 9th Scottish Division and their first major engagement there, was at the Somme in July 1916, where the 4th Regiment was involved in the fighting at Trones Wood. Then the entire brigade attacked at Longeuval (Delville Wood) on the afternoon of 14th July 1916.
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| Corporal Espey was one of the 143 survivors who left Delville Wood on 20 July 1916.
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| Longeuval is the site where the South African Memorial and Museum stand today.
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| 1917
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| The Brigade went on to take part in the Battle of Arras and Third Battle of Ypres in 1917.
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| 1918
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| Corporal Thomas Espey was serving with the 4th Regiment of the South African Infantry when he was killed in action on 7th January 1918.
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| The Brigade saw action at Gauche Wood in March 1918 during the German Spring Offensive. When the Germans launched their second major offensive in 1918 during the second phase of the Battle of Lys, the Brigade was ordered to counter attack at Messines.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 9th March 1918:
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| Intimation has been received by Mrs Black, Toberlane, that her brother, Thomas Espey, was killed in action in January last. Tom, as he was familiarly called, was well-known and highly respected in Cookstown, and his great many friends greatly regret to hear of his death. For several years he was a clerk at the G.N.R. Station, but emigrated to South Africa in 1909. Later he joined the Cape Mounted Rifles. At the outbreak of the present war he volunteered for service, joining a Scottish regiment. He paid a brief visit to Cookstown a few months ago.
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| On the 24th April 1918 the 1st, 2nd, and 4th, Regiments were amalgamated, temporarily becoming South African Regiment and were reformed again in September 1918.
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| On the 11th September 1918, the brigade finally parted with the 9th Scottish Division and joined the 66th (2nd West Lancashire) Division and aided in the recapture of Le Cateau on the 17th - 18th October 1918. Over 146,000 men served with South African Units during World War 1 with 18,600 casualties including 6,600 dead.
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| Memorials
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| Corporal Thomas Espey is buried in Fins New British Cemetery, Sorel-Le Grand, France.
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| Corporal Thomas Espey is also commemorated on Cookstown Cenotaph.
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| Corporal Espey is not listed on the Great Northern Railway War Memorial in Central Station, Belfast.
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| In March 2015, various items relating to Corporal Thomas Espey were sold on a South African online auction website. Below are some of the images relating to that collection.
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