Sgt
Thomas Marshall McKinstry
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1895 |
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Place of birth: Goornong, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia |
General information
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Profession: Station Hand - Farm Hand |
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Religion: Presbyterian |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Sergeant |
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Service number: 238 |
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Enlistment date: 18/01/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Bendigo, Victoria, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 21st Bn. (Victoria) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 04/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Zonnebeke Lake, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 22 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: Bay 23 Stone O |
Distinctions and medals 3
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1914-15 Star Medal |
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Sergeant Thomas Marshall McKinstry was 19 years of age when he enlisted in the 21st Battalion (part of the 2nd Division, 6th Brigade) of the AIF on 18th January 1915 at Bendigo, Victoria.
He was the son of William John and Charlotte McKinstry and had 3 other brothers in WWI: Andrew Hugh and James Alexander, both serving with the 21st Battalion and Arthur Taggart who served with the Light Horse in the Middle East.
As Anzac veteran he had spent some time in a hospital in Malta with dysentery and after the Pozieres Battle had risen to the rank of Sergeant.
The Battle of Broodseinde, part of the Battle of Passchendaele, took place on the 4th October1917. That day the 2nd Division attacked at 05.25 a.m., zero hour, met the same German counter-attacks as the 1st Australian Division and likewise fought them off.
Chasing the retreating Germans, the 6th Brigade skirted Zonnebeke Lake and helped capture the village itself. On the way they captured four anti-tank field guns and carried on over their first objective without stopping, although some companies were brought back to the first objective. The final objective was taken including Broodseinde village.
During these operations sergeant Thomas Marshall McKinstry, age 22, was killed in action. A mate said Thomas “was killed by concussion, and there no marks on him” at the time of his death. It happened outside a pillbox at Passchendaele Ridge. He was buried in the field but his remains were lost. So his name is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres, Bay 23 Stone O.
His younger brother, Andrew Hugh McKinstry was killed in the same fight, serving with the same Battalion, at the age of 20. He was buried in the Tyne Cot Cemetery at Passchendaele. His two other brothers returned safely to Australia.
He was the son of William John and Charlotte McKinstry and had 3 other brothers in WWI: Andrew Hugh and James Alexander, both serving with the 21st Battalion and Arthur Taggart who served with the Light Horse in the Middle East.
As Anzac veteran he had spent some time in a hospital in Malta with dysentery and after the Pozieres Battle had risen to the rank of Sergeant.
The Battle of Broodseinde, part of the Battle of Passchendaele, took place on the 4th October1917. That day the 2nd Division attacked at 05.25 a.m., zero hour, met the same German counter-attacks as the 1st Australian Division and likewise fought them off.
Chasing the retreating Germans, the 6th Brigade skirted Zonnebeke Lake and helped capture the village itself. On the way they captured four anti-tank field guns and carried on over their first objective without stopping, although some companies were brought back to the first objective. The final objective was taken including Broodseinde village.
During these operations sergeant Thomas Marshall McKinstry, age 22, was killed in action. A mate said Thomas “was killed by concussion, and there no marks on him” at the time of his death. It happened outside a pillbox at Passchendaele Ridge. He was buried in the field but his remains were lost. So his name is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres, Bay 23 Stone O.
His younger brother, Andrew Hugh McKinstry was killed in the same fight, serving with the same Battalion, at the age of 20. He was buried in the Tyne Cot Cemetery at Passchendaele. His two other brothers returned safely to Australia.
Connection to other soldiers 1
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Andrew Hugh McKinstry
Brother |
Sources 8
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"Passchendaele, The Day-by-Day Account",McCarthy C., Arms&ArmourPress, London, 1995, page 98-99" Sources used |
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AIF Project https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=201532 Sources used |
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Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people?people_preferred_name=McKinstry&people_service_number=238&people_unit= Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1599434/thomas-marshall-mckinstry/ Sources used |
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Service Record https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=1951639 Sources used |
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The Long Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/2nd-australian-division/ Sources used |
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War Diary 21st Battalion https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1342420 Sources used |
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War Diary 6th Brigade https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1343090 Sources used |