Sgt
Thomas Marshall McKinstry

Informations sur naissance

Année de naissance:
1895
Lieu de naissance:
Goornong, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia

Informations générales

Profession:
Serviteur de la ferme
Religion:
Presbyterian

Informations service militaire

Pays:
Australia
Force armée:
Australian Imperial Force
Rang:
Sergeant
Numéro de service:
238
Incorporation date:
18/01/1915
Incorporation nom de lieu:
Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
Unités:
 —  Australian Infantry, 21st Bn. (Victoria)  (Dernière unité connue)

Informations sur décès

Date de décès:
04/10/1917
Lieu de décès:
Zonnebeke Lake, Belgique
Cause du décès:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Âge:
22

Mémorial

Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial
Panneau: Bay 23 Stone O

Distinctions et médailles 3

1914-15 Star
Médaille
British War Medal
Médaille
Victory Medal
Médaille

Points d'intérêt 3

#1 Lieu de naissance
#2 Lieu d'enrôlement
#3 Lieu du décès (approximatif)

Mon histoire

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.

Rapports avec d'autres militaires 1

Sources 8

"Passchendaele, The Day-by-Day Account",McCarthy C., Arms&ArmourPress, London, 1995, page 98-99"
Sources utilisées
AIF Project
https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=201532
Sources utilisées
Australian War Memorial
https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people?people_preferred_name=McKinstry&people_service_number=238&people_unit=
Sources utilisées
CWGC
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1599434/thomas-marshall-mckinstry/
Sources utilisées
Service Record
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=1951639
Sources utilisées
The Long Long Trail
http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/2nd-australian-division/
Sources utilisées
War Diary 21st Battalion
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1342420
Sources utilisées
War Diary 6th Brigade
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1343090
Sources utilisées