.My wife Elizabeth and her siblings knew nothing whats so ever about their grandfather Thomas Banks.
The only piece of information regarding him was obtained from the marriage certificate of their mother, Margaret Georgina Banks in 1934. There it gives her father as Thomas Banks deceased mason`s labourer. All the children of this mentioned marriage had never seen or heard anything what so ever about him.

His story for me began, when one day while transcribing some of the grave stones in the Aberavon new burial ground next to St Joseph`s Church. I found the gravestone of one  Edward Rees
died.20th.March.1952.aged 63 years.
And of Anne his wife
died.17th.June.1951.aged 62 years.
Also of Thomas & Ann Banks 
the parents of Anne Rees.

But the thing which stood out for me about this grave, was that laying flat  on the chippings within the same kerbstones was also a War grave which read as follows,

15243. L.CPL
Thomas Banks
South Wales Borderers
2nd.November 1918 age 29.

G.Banks
Able Seaman KNVRB 2/630
HMS Maidstone
3rd.February 1920
God thought it best to take
such loved ones home to rest.

The details given on the above memorials make perfectly clear the relationships of the people mentioned.
Thus making up a family of Thomas Banks and his wife Anne together with three of their children, Anne, Thomas and George Banks.

So we now had some facts about him with which we could work.

BMD Gives us
Births Jun 1890  
Banks  Thomas     Merthyr Tydfil  11a 593 
I would send for this Cert.

By searching the1891 Census I was able to find only one entry that had all the correct facts of our Thomas Banks.

16 Trealaw road, Penrhys, Ystradyfodwg.
Lodging at the home of Frances Wilton a 44 year old widow from Ireland.
Thomas Banks married aged 31 and a bricklayer said to have been born in Bilston Staffordshire.
His wife Ann was aged 25 and born in Cwm Dwr, Glamorgan.
They had two children Anny aged 3 and Thomas aged 11 months both born in Merthyr.
Also lodging there was a John Banks aged 16 single a labourer at a coal pit born in Blorwick, Staffordshire. It does not mention his relationship to anyone in the household.

1901.Puie.St.Stockton on Tees. Durham.
Thomas Banks hd.m.49.bricklayer.Belston.Stafforshire.
Ann Banks wife.        36.                 Wales.
Ann Banks dau.        12. scholar.   Wales.
Thomas Banks son. 10. scholar.  Wales.
William Banks son.    9. scholar.   Wales.
Margaret Banks dau. 7. scholar.   Wales.
George Banks son.   5. scholar.   Scotland.
Mary Banks dau.      6.months. Rotherham.Yorks.

1911. 12.Michna St. Aberavon.
Ann Banks hd.wid.44.mar.24yrs.10.child.6.living.Neath.
Thomas Banks son.s.20.docks labourer.  Merthyr.Glam.
Anne Banks dau.s.22. hotel barmaid.           Pontypridd.
William Banks son.s.19.sailor NOT AT HOME. Merthyr.Glam.
Margaret Banks dau.s.19 in tinworks.  Llanllon.Carms.
George Banks son.s.14. collier.    Dalmeir.Scotland.
William H.Griffiths son.s.29. collier. Neath.
James Rees boarder.m.56. coal co.foreman.Glam

Details from his war records.

At Neath 4th.May 1908 Thomas Banks passed his medical to join the Army.
Royal Garrison Artillery.
The only address given was Merthyr Tydvil and he was a labourer.
He was said to have been aged 18 years and 1 month of age. 5ft. 7 3/4in height. and weighing 126 lbs.with a fresh complexion red hair and brown eyes. He had a scar to his lower lip and at the back of his head.
He said that he was a baptist.

He then reported on the 9th of May 1908 he signed to join up at Citadel Plymouth.
23rd.Sept.1908 he was posted to Gibraltar.
Applied for discharge15-12-09 [ no reason found]
Discharged 22-12-09. 
At discharge his next of kin was given as
Thomas Banks [ father ].address given then as 12 Michna street Aberavon nr Port Talbot.

So his total time in the army was 1 year 233 days.

Thomas Banks married Mary Ann Roberts at a register office in the Neath District. 26th.April.1913. 11a.  1464.

Thomas was a 22 year old bachelor and was working as a labourer, at this time he was living at 21 Michna St. Aberavon. His father was also Thomas Banks and was a bricklayer.
Mary Ann was also 22 years old and a spinster living at 1 Ysgythan Rd, Aberavon, and her father was David Roberts a labourer.
The two witnesses were George Banks and Maggie Banks.

Aberavon Peoples graveyard next to St.Josephs.
B167 Granite headstone with kerbs
including a standard War grave
laying flat within the kerbs

Edward Rees
died.20th.March.1952.aged 63 years.
And of Anne his wife
died.17th.June.1951.aged 62 years.
Also of Thomas & Ann Banks 
the parents of Anne Rees.

War Grave.
15243. L.CPL
Thomas Banks
South Wales Borderers
2nd.November 1918 age 29.

G.Banks
Able Seaman KNVRB 2/630
HMS Maidstone
3rd.February 1920
God thought it best to take
such loved ones home to rest.

The Commonwealth War graves commission gives us the following details of a Thomas Banks a lance Corporal aged 29 years in the South Wales Borderers service number 15243. who was killed in action the second day of November 1919.
A memorial may be found at Aberavon Saint Mary Church Cemetery, new ground 7. 28.
How unfortunate for the war was to end within days of his death.

His brother Charles Banks died at Ely Hospital,Cardiff (
addnl): admission and discharge records c1914-1970 (ACC 1995/113)