Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Thomas Edward Ingram was born on 8 February 1887 at Waimate, the youngest son of Thomas and Sarah (née Cairns) Ingram. Thomas senior and Sarah came to New Zealand within two years of marrying at Newtownards, County Down, Ireland. Their first-born died in Ireland at 2 months of age. They settled in Waimate where four children were born. Between 1893 and 1896 the family moved to Pukeuri Junction near Oamaru. Young Tom started school at Waimate, before commencing at Pukeuri School when eight years old. At the Waimate School break-up in 1893, Tom was one of several pupils in the Infants Class who were awarded a prize for Regular Attendance but “Away with measles” on the big occasion. In 1901 Tom earned recognition at Pukeuri School – the Standard VII prize for mapping and Miss Gray’s prize for second place in carving. At the annual householders’ meeting in April 1903 his father was elected to the Pukeuri School committee and at a subsequent meeting re-appointed secretary and treasurer, and again in April 1904. In 1907 he held the position of chairman. In June 1910 a most enjoyable concert was held in aid of the Pukeuri Public Library funds. A well-stocked library it was, with some fifteen hundred volumes. Thomas Ingram, junior, controlled the dance which followed and made a very efficient M.C.

After leaving school Thomas followed his father into farming. His father died in 1916, his mother living on till 1930. Thomas was living at the family property at Patiti, Pukeuri, when he enlisted with the New Zealand Forces. It was only in July 1916 that a post and telephone office was opened at Patiti (Richmond’s Crossing). Enlisting on 11 November 1916, 29 years old and single, well-built and no doubt fit, he proceeded to camp from Oamaru with the Infantry of the Twenty-fifth Reinforcements (North Otago and Central Otago men) on 10 January 1917. Tom embarked on 14 April 1917 with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade before disembarking on 18 April at Wellington. It was 26 April when he re-embarked and the “Pakeha” left for Plymouth, England. Thomas actually disembarked at Devonport and immediately marched into Sling for training. Six weeks later, in September, he proceeded overseas and joined his battalion, being posted to A Company at Rouen.

On 27 March 1918, Thomas was admitted to hospital, mildly ill, Two weeks later he was attached to the New Zealand Forces and the following month (May) rejoined his battalion. But not for long - on 16 July 1918 Rifleman Ingram was killed in action in the Field in France, aged 21 years. At the very time of the death of Rifleman T. E. Ingram, his mother was one who contributed £10 to the Red Jersey Appeal. In May 1918, while still residing at Richmond, just north of Pukeuri, she had given 3 shillings to the Red Cross Sheep drive. And one of his sisters made four pairs of sox for the Pukeuri Red Cross in mid-1918.

Thomas Edward Ingram is buried in the Hebuterne Military Cemetery at Hebuterne, France, one of 53 New Zealanders buried there, all between April and August 1918 when the New Zealand Division was engaged in renewed fighting in the village. He is also remembered on his parents’ headstone in the Oamaru Cemetery – ‘He did his duty.”. His name, along with fifteen others, is inscribed on the Pukeuri War Memorial. A new memorial was unveiled in 2006 after the original was damaged on several occasions and finally demolished by a vehicle in 1971. His medals – British War Medal and Victory Medal – were sent to his mother, who moved into Oamaru after her son’s death. The plaque and scroll were also sent. His brother, John Cairns Ingram, was called up but did not serve.

In July 1919 there was “an occasion unique in the history of Pukeuri, when the lads of Richmond, Hilderthorpe and Pukeuri who have been across the seas and returned home received a hearty welcome from the residents.” The occasion also saw the presentation of medals to the next-of-kin of fallen soldiers. The Rev. G. W. Hunt expressed, on behalf of the residents, their keenest appreciation of what had been done for them by the fallen, and also their sincerest sympathy with all the relatives of those soldiers who had made the supreme sacrifice. “The token that they would receive that night,” he said, “would, he hoped, help them to realise how highly the community regarded the sacrifices made.” Rifleman T. E. Ingram was one of the lads who had died for their country and were remembered that night. His mother, brother and two sisters were left to remember.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [23 June 2017]; CWGC [23 June 2017]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ ref. AABK 18805 W5541 0059115) [23 June 2017]; School Admission Record (Oamaru Branch NZSG) [23 June 2017]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [23 June 2017]; Timaru Herald, 19 December 1893, Oamaru Mail, 21 December 1901, 27 June 1910, 10 January 1917, 11 May 1918, 20 & 30 July 1918, 31 August 1918, 30 July 1919, North Otago Times, 30 April 1903, 31 July 1918 [x 2], Dominion, 31 July 1918, Otago Witness, 11 September 1918 (Papers Past) [23 & 25 June 2017]; Oamaru Cemetery headstone transcription (South Canterbury Branch NZSG cemetery records) [23 June 2017]; Pukeuri War Memorial photos (NZ History) [26 June 2017]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• Great War Stories - Thomas Edward Ingram - Timaru Herald 1 July 2017 (pdf, 77.9 KB updated 15-Sep-2017)

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC branch NZSG

Currently Assigned to

TS