Gerard Charles Tunbridge
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Gerard was born in 1895 and was the son of James, a clerk in holy orders, and Marianne Sophie Tunbridge née Garbutt who resided in Laxton, Nottinghamshire His father James Tunbridge was born in 1849 in Bath, Somerset. He was a clerk in holy orders and became a missionary, serving in India between 1886 and 1899 and 1902-1914.He was married twice; he married his first wife Susan Eliza Lee on 16th September 1875 in Warwick. He and his wife must have gone to India with his work as they had a daughter Florence Ethel born 18th September 1879 in West Bengal, India. Sadly, his wife Susan died at the age of 31 years in 1881 in India; they had been married for 6 yrs. He went on to marry for the second time in 1881 at Rotherham, Yorkshire, to Marianne Sophie Garbutt who had been born in 1858 in Darlington, Durham. They went on to have the following seven children:- Irene Grace b1889 India, Doris Minnie b1891 Colwich, Staffordshire, Norman Leslie b. 22nd January 1892 Tinwell, Rutland, Gerald Charles b1895 Punjab, India, Harold Sage b1897 Punjab, India, Eric b. 17th November 1898 India and Dulicie Dameris b. 4th September 1901 Hatfield, Hertfordshire. In the 1911 census the family is living at The Rectory Wyfordby, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, and are shown as:- James 61 yrs clerk in holy orders, who is living with his wife Marianne Sophie 51 yrs and their three youngest children Doris 20 yrs, a governess, Harold Sage 20 yrs, scholar, and Eric 13 years a scholar. Also in the house is a domestic servant, Elizabeth Hibbert 13 yrs. In the same census we find that Gerard has left home and is a scholar; he is 16 years of age and boarding at Dean Close Memorial School, Shelburne Rod, Cheltenham. When Gerald enlists into the army his next of kin is his mother who is living at 14 Albany Road, Sheffield. At the time of his death his parents are living at Laxton, Nottinghamshire, where his father is the rector of the local parish.His probate was proven (with will) in London on 6th August 1919 and he is shown as Gerard Charles Tunbridge of Laxton vicarage, Lieutenant 1st battalion Yorks and Lancaster Regiment, died 27th April 1918 in Greece. Probate was awarded to his mother, Marianne Sophie Tunbridge, 'wife of the Reverend James Tunbridge, Clerk.' Effects £306 16 shillings and 3 pence.
Gerald enlisted and served with the Duke of Cambridge Own (Middlesex) Regiment as a private. He was however commissioned on 5th August 1916 to the 1st battalion York and Lancashire Regiment. His medal index card shows he first entered a theatre of war (France) on 17th November 1915. In Oct 1915 the 1st battalion moved to Egypt and then on to Salonika to aid Serbia against the Bulgarian forces and were involved in various actions. Gerard joined his regiment in Bulgaria and on 18th April 1918 was posted as missing. He was in fact wounded and captured and held as a prisoner of war. He died of his wounds on 27th April 1918 and was buried in Struma Military Cemetery, Greece (grave ref VI.J.7). His brother Harold Sage also served during the Great War. He too joined the Duke of Cambridge Own (Middlesex) Regiment as a private and was commissioned on the same day as his brother, 5th August 1916, into the 1st battalion Yorks and Lancaster Regiment. He also first entered a theatre of war (France) on 17th November 1915. However, Harold survived the war.
Personal inscription, CWGC headstone: 'Until He come'Inscription on altar cross: 'In loving memory of Lieutenant Gerard Charles Tunbridge, died of wounds in Bulgaria 27th April 1918 during the Great War. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.'
