Thomas William Garrett
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Thomas William Garrett was born 7th April 1885 in Barnstone and was the son of William and Emma Garrett née Hubbard of Langar, Nottinghamshire. William was born in 1855 at Balderton, Emma Hubbard was born in 1855 at Barrow Upon Soar, they were married on 17th December 1874 at St John’s Church, Bulwell, they went on to have 9 children. He married his wife Gertrude Wood (born 25th March 1890 in Elston) in 1909 , their marriage is recorded in the Southwell Registration District. They went on to have the following children Alice May b1910 Irene b1911 and George b1913. In the 1911 census he and his family are living at Barnstone and are shown as Thomas William 25 yrs a quarryman he is living with his wife Gertrude 21 yrs and their 2 children , May 1 yr and Irene 1 month.
Private Thomas William Garrett enlisted in Hucknall on 3rd September 1914, serving with service number 13435 in the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, he was 29 yrs of age and a farm labourer, (he had previous military service serving with the Leicestershire Regiment and was time expired) He transferred to the Royal Marine Light Infantry on 16th September 1914, being posted to the Plymouth Battalion. No.3 Company, 12th Platoon, 14 Section.He joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in Gallipoli on 6th February 1915. He was killed in action on 3rd May 1915, he has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the 'Helles Memorial' Gallipoli, Turkey.
Garrett was one of 'Kitchener's Marines' who were transferred from the Sherwood Foresters to the RMLI. Des Turner notes '600 RMLI transfers came from 2 regiments - 200 from the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI) and 400 from the Sherwood Foresters. They were predominantly ex-miners and labourers, fit men wanted for their ability to dig trenches and tunnels. The 200 KOYLI recruits were transferred to Plymouth Division RMLI and were given service numbers PLY/1(S) to PLY200(S). This was also the case for the Sherwood Foresters 200 who were dispatched to Portsmouth where already 30 men were recruited and so they became PO/31(S) to PO/230(S). 200 remaining Foresters went to Chatham and were numbered CH/1 to CH/200(S).In memoriam notice published 13th May 1916 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “GARRETT. – In loving memory of Private Thomas William Garrett, killed in action May 13th, 1915.(sic) – Too dearly loved to be forgotten by his mother, father, sisters, and brother George.” Above in memoriam courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
