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Private Thomas Hutchison

Description

TitlePrivate Thomas HutchisonSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionThomas was born at Springston on 14 August 1889, eldest son of Thomas and Emily Hutchison had been engaged in farming with his mother at Springston South, and also worked on Messrs Hewson Bros, threshing plant. He was described as a fine example of manhood, and was very highly respected by all who knew him. He was one of a number of departing soldiers who was presented with a gold medal by Mr Kime in May 1917. He was also a member of the Ethelbert Lodge of the Ancient order of Druids, a local fraternal organisation. He was 5ft 8in tall with a fair complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair.

Thomas enlisted at Christchurch on 12 March 1917 and was assigned to the 27th Reinforcements, Auckland Infantry Regiment, A Company. Whilst at Featherston Camp he forfeited 3 day’s pay for being late back from leave on 28/29 May 1917. He embarked from Wellington on 12 June 1917, arriving in Devonport and marching in to Sling Camp on 16 August. He left for France on 27 September and marched into Base Depot at Etaples on 29th September. He joined the Division in the field on 7th October and was posted 3rd Battalion Auckland Regiment, C Company. The next month he was evacuated sick on 26 November with “Bronchitis” to the No.3 Canadian General Hospital. It may be that he had been exposed to mustard gas which was used by the Germans in 1917 although there are no notations on his record. He was sent to England on 1 December and admitted to the City of London Military Hospital at Clapton on 2 December. He was admitted to hospital at Walton on Thames and then Hornchurch and finally to Codford on 14 February 1918. He was attached to the strength (Auckland Reserve Battalion) again at Sling on 7 May but this appears to have been premature for on 23 June he was admitted to the Military Hospital at Tidworth with pneumonia. He died there five days later on 28th, aged 28 and was buried in the Tidworth Military Cemetery, Wiltshire, England. In New Zealand, Thomas is remembered on the Greenpark and Springston War Memorials.

Tidworth Military Cemetery, which contains burials of both wars, was directly connected with training grounds on, or near, Salisbury Plain. During the First World War, the cemetery was used for burials from Tidworth and Fargo Military Hospitals and the 417 graves, many of them of Australian or New Zealand servicemen, are scattered throughout the cemetery.First NameThomasLast NameHutchisonFamilySingleEldest son of Thomas and Emily HutchisonDate of Birth14 August 1889Place of BirthSpringstonCause of DeathDied of sicknessAge at Death28

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CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageSpringston War MemorialGreenpark War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph

Military Service

Memorial or CemeteryTidworth Military CemeteryGreenpark War MemorialSpringston War Memorial Regiment or ServiceAuckland Infantry RegimentEnlistment Details12th March 1917 at ChristchurchService Number51732Embarkation12th June 1917CountryNew Zealand

Attribution

Researched ByL. M. Seaton

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Private Thomas Hutchison