No.42887, Private, Thomas John MINGAY
Aged 22
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Thomas John Mingay was born in Stradishall (4th qtr 1896 Risbridge 4a:762) son of George and Louisa MINGAY(née COOK)
1901 census...Aged 4, he was at Moat Farm, Chevington with his father George MINGAY [59] road labourer born Welnetham; his mother Louisa [46] born Wickhambrook; brothers George [24] thrashing machine labourer born Whepstead, Charles [13] farm labourer born Stradishall; sisters Kate [19] born Hundon and Nellie [11] born Cowlinge. 1911 census...Aged 14, a farm labourer, he was still at Moat Farm with his parents and brother Charles. His mother had lost 3 of her 11 children. On the pension card his parent were at Church Road, Chevington. Present at death was his sister Laura COOPER. His brother Charles was killed in France in 1917 see here |
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He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds on 17th February 1916, giving his age as 19 years 5 months, a farm labourer born Stradishall. 5 feet 2.75 inches tall,
weighing 97 lbs and chest 29 to 31.5 inches. it was noted that he was of arrested development and looked younger than he stated.
He was mobilised on 3rd April 1916 as 34462 in 3rd Essex Regiment, and sent to the 11th Essex Regt in the BEF on 22nd December 1916, and seems to have been in and out of hospital
( including for pleurisy) many times in UK and in France. Transferred to 4th battalion South Staffordshire Regiment on 31st March 1918. On 10th April 1918 he was struck by a machine gun bullet in the left forearm and sent to 2nd Australian General Hospital in Boulogne and stayed there 4 days before being evacuated to UK, admitted to Southport Hospital, stayed 3 weeks, then went to Western General Hospital, Liverpool for a further 9 weeks. He then went to Vicarage at ? for 2 weeks. He was discharged on 24th October 1918 due to being medically unfit for service. He received a pension on account of tuberculosis, which was the cause of death on his death certificate. He was then in the 3rd battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment.
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
