Thomas John GREENFIELD (1887-1915)

Thomas John GREENFIELD was born 27 February 1887 in Oamaru, New Zealand. He was the sixth child, and second youngest of Joseph GREENFIELD and Augusta Bromville nee BROOKES. A sister (Mary Eveline Duthina 1879-1880) and brother (Johannes Augustus 1883-1884) had already died as infants before Thomas’ birth, and another sister (Jane Grace 1885-1901) would die aged 16 years when Thomas was 14.   

Family portrait: Augusta and Joseph seated middle

 sons left to right: Walter Percival 1877-1958, Thomas John (Jack)1887-1915,
 Robert Henry (Harry)1881-1960, Joseph William (Joe)1893-1950.

Thomas attested on 27 August 1914 just 22 days after Britain’s declaration of War on 4 August (time difference allowed).

 
At this time he is noted as having medium complexion, gray eyes, and brown hair. He has good hearing, vision and teeth, is 5 foot 7 inches tall, and 159 pounds (72kg). Physical development is good, without defect, and he was certified medically fit for service.

He was assigned service number 8/1006 and posted to the Otago Infantry Battalion, 4^th Otago Regiment.

On 15 October 1914 Thomas prepared to set sail for Alexandria, disembarking there on 3 December.

After almost two months in Egypt on 26 January 1915 the Regiment was ordered north to Kubri, to help form a defensive line against an expected Ottoman Empire attack on the Suez Canel.
The line was on the Eastern side of the canal and extended between the Little Bitter Lake in the North and Suez in the South. Here they combined with the already stationed Indian troops.
The attack came on 3 February and was repulsed, the Otago Infantry Regiment was kept in reserve.
The Regiment began preparing for the invasion of Gallipoli in early April 1915. Their training was focused on strength for the broken and steep terrain they would encounter. At this point the Otago Battalion had four companies; 4th (Otago), 8th (Southland), 10th (North Otago) and 14th (South Otago). On 10 April they departed Alexandria on the 'Annaberg'. Further information about the regiments activities can be found here https://www.gutenberg.org/files/45354/45354-h/45354-h.htm#Page_1  There were many bloody battles with losses on both sides. On May 24th an armistice was called to allow retrieval and burial of the dead, recorded as one of the strangest days of the campaign, then fighting again continued.

 

This photograph of work parties retrieving bodies for burial was taken during the armatice by Brigadier-General Ryan of the Australian Medical Corps.

Although not stated this is the battle where Thomas lost his life, the time and place and amount of casualties are almost certainly more than coincidental...

The battle for NO. 3 Post (28-30 May 1915) was fought between the forces of the New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade and the Turkish 19th Division. The New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade was responsible for the defense of the Northern perimeter of the ANZAC beach-head, holding a sector from the position known as Walker's Top down the ridge line to the sea. Part of this defense line was formed by No.1 and No.2 Posts, isolated positions in the far north that could only be approached in safety during the hours of darkness. Near the end of May 1915, the Turks started constructing a new position just inland from No. 2 Post, which if left to be completed would cause problems for the New Zealanders. Therefore, it was decided to assault and capture the post. After the position was captured, it was named No 3 Post, and the New Zealanders settled in and attempted to improve its defenses. The same night, the Turks counter-attacked. Surrounded and cut off from the rest of the brigade, running short of ammunition and supplies, the defending 9th (Wellington East Coast) Squadron held out for twenty-eight hours until relieved, and beat off several attempts to break through their lines. When the Squadron was eventually relieved it was decided the post was untenable, and it was abandoned the same night.
The New Zealand Mounted Brigade's casualties during the battle were forty-two dead and 109 wounded.

There was some apparent confusion surrounding his death as Thomas was listed as wounded on 10 June 1915, and missing in action before a court of inquiry reported he had been KIA, Dardanelles on 30 May 1915.
Thomas' body was never retrieved, he is immortalised at the Lone Pine Cemetery and Memorial, panel number 75.

       
                   

Thomas’ two older brothers are not enlisted in the Great War; Walter Percival probably because of his age, and Robert Henry had served in the Boer war. His younger brother Joseph William however did enlist with the NZEF (service number 8/3910) and was assigned to Otago Infantry Battalion 10^th reinforcements. He returned home after the war.

Thomas was not married, he had nominated his oldest brother Percy Walter as next of kin, although naming his father Joseph as legal next of kin.

On 25 November 1919 a pension of twenty-six pounds per annum was granted to his mother Augusta as a dependent.  Sometime after this and prior to 26 March 1920 she also applied for the Overseas War Service Gratuity, but the records do not show if this was granted. The UK War Gratuity for less than one year service was two pounds.

The plaque (24 Nov 1921), scroll (20 Sept 1921) and Thomas’ British War Medal and Victory Medal (25 Aug 1922), such as these, were forwarded to his father Joseph.