Private Thomas James Jeremiah GARVIN (1894-1916).

Also known as James. His name appears as James Garvin on the New Zealand Online Cenotaph.

NZEF Service # 10/1821; Private, Otago Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion, 4th Reinforcements, New Zealand Expeditionary Forces (NZEF).

Born 17 May 1894 - at Kumara, Greymouth District, Westland, West Coast of the South Island, New Zealand.

Thomas was the son of Mrs Ellen Garvin -  and the late John Garvin -  of Nelson, South Island, New Zealand.

Thomas Garvin enlisted for war service - on 12 January 1915 - at Trentham Military Training Camp, Wellington Region, North Island, New Zealand. He was 21 years of age.

At enlistment Thomas Garvin was posted as a Private with the Wellington Infantry Regiment, 4th Reinforcements, NZEF.

On 17 April 1915 Private Garvin left New Zealand with the 4th Reinforcements NZEF - aboard HMNZ T21 'Willochra' - from Port of Wellington, North Island, New Zealand.

Five weeks later - in late May 1915 - Private Garvin disembarked from his transport ship from New Zealand - at either Suez or Alexandria, Egypt.

In the first days of June 1915 Private Garvin was sent, with his unit, to serve with the ANZAC (Australian & New Zealand Army Corps) forces - at Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey.

On 9 June 1915 Private Garvin joined his Regiment - the Wellington Infantry Regiment - at Gallipoli, Turkey.

Private Garvin served at Gallipoli until he was wounded in action - on 8 August 1915 - during the Battle for Chunuk Bair, Gallipoli.

The next day, on 9 August 1915, Private Garvin was admitted to the Hospital Ship HS 'Dongola' - at ANZAC Cove, Gallipoli, and he was medically evacuated from Gallipoli to Egypt.

Arriving at Egypt Private Garvin was admitted, on 12 August 1915, to the New Zealand General Hospital - at Abbassia, Egypt.

On 2 January 1916 Private Garvin re-joined his Battalion - at Ismailia, Egypt.

One month later - on 9 February 1916 - Private Garvin transferred as a Private, from the Wellington Infantry Regiment to the Otago Infantry Regiment, 1st Battery, NZEF.

On 6 April 1916 Private Garvin left Egypt for war service at France.

Private Thomas J. Garvin served at France until he was killed in action - on 14 July 1916 - at the Somme, Armentieres, France. He was 23 years of age.

Private Thomas J. Garvin is buried at Cite Bonjean Cemetery, Armentieres, France (Grave ref: 11.E.22).

Photo Credit (1) : Private T. Garvin - wounded at Gallipoli : 'Weekly News' (9 September 1915) - from the Auckland Library Heritage Photograph Collection (Auckland, New Zealand).

Photo Credit (2) : Private T. Garvin - killed in action at France : 'Weekly News' (24 August 1916) - from the Auckland Library Heritage Photograph Collection (Auckland, New Zealand).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jenifer Everett