Sgt
Thomas Marshall McKinstry

Informatie over geboorte

Geboortejaar:
1895
Geboorteplaats:
Goornong, Bendigo, Victoria, Australië

Algemene Informatie

Beroep:
Boerenknecht
Geloof:
Presbyterian

Informatie legerdienst

Land:
Australië
Strijdmacht:
Australian Imperial Force
Rang:
Sergeant
Service nummer:
238
Dienstneming datum:
18/01/1915
Dienstneming plaats:
Bendigo, Victoria, Australië
Eenheden:
 —  Australian Infantry, 21st Bn. (Victoria)  (Laatst gekende eenheid)

Informatie over overlijden

Datum van overlijden:
04/10/1917
Plaats van overlijden:
Zonnebeke Lake, België
Doodsoorzaak:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Leeftijd:
22

Gedenkplaats

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

Onderscheidingen en medailles 3

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

Points of interest 3

#1 Geboorteplaats
#2 Dienstneming plaats
#3 Plaats van overlijden (bij benadering)

Mijn verhaal

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.

Connectie's met andere militairen 1

Bronnen 8

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