Sgt
Thomas Marshall McKinstry
Information about birth
|
Year of birth: 1895 |
|
Place of birth: Bendigo, Victoria, Australia |
General information
|
Last known residence: Goornong, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia |
|
Profession: Station Hand - Farm Hand |
|
Religion: Presbyterian |
Army information
|
Country: Australia |
|
Force: Australian Imperial Force |
|
Rank: Sergeant |
|
Service number: 238 |
|
Enlistment date: 18/01/1915 |
|
Enlistment place: Bendigo, Victoria, Australia |
|
Units: — Australian Infantry, 21st Bn. (Victoria) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
|
Date of death: 04/10/1917 |
|
Place of death: Broodseinde, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
|
Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
|
Age: 22 |
Memorial
|
Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 23 O |
Distinctions and medals 3
|
1914-15 Star Medal |
|
British War Medal Medal |
|
Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Thomas Marshall McKinstry was the son of William John and Charlotte McKinstry. He lived in Goornong, Victoria, Australia and worked as a farmhand. He enlisted in the Australian Army in January 1915. Like his brothers Andrew and James, Thomas was part of the 21st Battalion (6th Brigade, 2nd Australian Division). Their older brother, Arthur, was in the 8th Light Horse Regiment. Arthur and James survived the war. Andrew and Thomas were not so lucky.
Thomas was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal in December 1916. He was promoted to Corporal in April 1917 and Sergeant in early August 1917.
Both Andrew and Thomas died on 4 October 1917 at the Battle of Broodseinde, which was part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The attack on the heights of Broodseinde was preceded by heavy German shelling. At 5.25am, zero hour, the 2nd Australian Division attacked from Zonnebeke. The 21st Battalion fought its way through the German artillery shelling and reached the first objective. During the attack, a congestion occurred on the ridge near some German pillboxes. This did not go unnoticed by the German artillery, who sent some shells in that direction, with terrible consequences. Despite this, the attack continued unabated.
At 7pm, 20 cases of bullets, 40 tins of water and 10 cases of grenades were delivered. At 20h15, a shell hit Battalion Headquarters, which were located in a pillbox near the German cemetery on the ridge (28.D.22.d.9.3), igniting 2 cases of ammunition. There were 2 killed and 4 wounded. Headquarters were moved a little to the rear to Deknoet Farm.
The losses for the 21st Battalion were heavy. 45 boys were killed, 215 were wounded and 15 boys were missing. So was Thomas Marshall McKinstry. The 22-year-old was initially reported wounded and missing. C.F. Cunnings of the 22nd Battalion reported that Thomas was killed by the pressure wave of a shell that hit just outside a pillbox near the Passchendaele or Broodseinde Ridge. He saw them digging a grave for Thomas, but did not wait for him to be buried. So it is uncertain whether the grave was ever marked. His brother Andrew was also fatally wounded on that day.
Today, Thomas Marshall McKinstry is commemorated on the Menin Gate. His name can be found on panel 23 stone O.
Thomas was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal in December 1916. He was promoted to Corporal in April 1917 and Sergeant in early August 1917.
Both Andrew and Thomas died on 4 October 1917 at the Battle of Broodseinde, which was part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The attack on the heights of Broodseinde was preceded by heavy German shelling. At 5.25am, zero hour, the 2nd Australian Division attacked from Zonnebeke. The 21st Battalion fought its way through the German artillery shelling and reached the first objective. During the attack, a congestion occurred on the ridge near some German pillboxes. This did not go unnoticed by the German artillery, who sent some shells in that direction, with terrible consequences. Despite this, the attack continued unabated.
At 7pm, 20 cases of bullets, 40 tins of water and 10 cases of grenades were delivered. At 20h15, a shell hit Battalion Headquarters, which were located in a pillbox near the German cemetery on the ridge (28.D.22.d.9.3), igniting 2 cases of ammunition. There were 2 killed and 4 wounded. Headquarters were moved a little to the rear to Deknoet Farm.
The losses for the 21st Battalion were heavy. 45 boys were killed, 215 were wounded and 15 boys were missing. So was Thomas Marshall McKinstry. The 22-year-old was initially reported wounded and missing. C.F. Cunnings of the 22nd Battalion reported that Thomas was killed by the pressure wave of a shell that hit just outside a pillbox near the Passchendaele or Broodseinde Ridge. He saw them digging a grave for Thomas, but did not wait for him to be buried. So it is uncertain whether the grave was ever marked. His brother Andrew was also fatally wounded on that day.
Today, Thomas Marshall McKinstry is commemorated on the Menin Gate. His name can be found on panel 23 stone O.
Connection to other soldiers 1
|
Andrew Hugh McKinstry
Brother |
Sources 6
|
21st Battalion Australian Infantry, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/38/26). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
|
6th Brigade Australian Infantry, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/6/26). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
|
Australian Red Cross Wounded and missing Enquiry Bureau (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM),RCDIG1047313) https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
|
First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455). https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/ Sources used |
|
McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), 113. Sources used |
|
Unit embarkation nominal rolls, 1914-18 War (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM8). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
More information 4
|
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1599434 |
|
Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=a2b4110f-1f98-42ba-8d57-aeae1ceb9185 |
|
Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7312296 |
|
The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=201532 |