Thomas Hugh Kirk

A Private with 1st New Zealand Stationary Hospital, Thomas died on 23rd of October 1915 at the age of 26. 

Thomas was born at Banbury, Oxfordshire, on 18 May 1889, a son of Robert Thomas and Harriett Elizabeth Kirk. He was baptised at Christchurch, Banbury, on 27 August 1889 and at that time his family lived at Prospect Terrace, Banbury and his father was a Recruiting Sergeant with the Oxfordshire Light Infantry. In 1891 his family lived at 8 Queens Street, Neithrop, Banbury. 

By 1901 Thomas' family were living at 85 Greenleaf Road, Walthamstow. In 1907-1908 Thomas served with the 4th Battalion Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. Thomas, and family, were still living at 85 Greenleaf Road in 1911 and Thomas worked as a schoolmaster at a London County Council elementary school. Later Thomas' parents lived at Bungalow, Chestnut Avenue, Oulton Broad, Lowestoft, and then, by 1935, at 20 Worthing Road, Lowestoft. 

Thomas emigrated to New Zealand where he was a school-master. His address was care of Mr. Alexander, New North Road, Morningside.

Thomas enlisted in the New Zealand Medical Corps at Trentham on 17 April 1915. He was on board the troopship S.S. Marquette when it was torpedoed and sunk off Salonika on 23 October 1915. 

The loss of the Marquette caused outrage in New Zealand as several female nurses were killed in the sinking. Subsequently all New Zealand medical personal were transported on hospital ships that were clearly identified as such. 

Thomas' brother, Robin, died at Shanghai in 1916. Both brothers are recorded on Saint Margaret's Church War Memorial and Lowestoft War Memorial (memorial book). Their father was allowed to rejoin the Army in 1914 and served, until 1916, as a Company Sergeant Major, with the 11th Battalion Suffolk Regiment.