GARDINER, PTE THOMAS GEORGE – Regimental # 408082
Thomas George was the youngest son of the John and Esther ‘Hettie’ (Haines) Gardiner family. He was born in Parry Sound District December 15, 1896 on the Balsam farm owned by his parents. He attended Parry Sound High School for two years before enlisting in World War I. He enlisted Feb. 11, 1915. He joined the 17th Battalion, June 5, 1915, and embarked for Britain August 17, 1915. He landed in France on November 25, 1915 for service with the 25th Battalion, Nova Scotia Regiment.[1] In May he suffered from a short bout with influenza and enteritis, returning to his unit before month’s end. He was reported missing in action, at September 16, 1916. He was 20 years of age.
Thomas George Gardiner
25th Battalion took part in The Battle of the Somme. The battle took place between 1 July and 18 November 1916 on either side of the River Somme in France. The battle was one of the largest of the war. More than 1,000,000 men from all sides were wounded or killed, making it one of humanity's bloodiest battles.
The 25th Battalion then took part in the Battle of Flers–Courcelette. The battle was launched on 15 September 1916 and went on for one week. By its conclusion on September 22nd , tactical gains had been made in the capture of the villages of Courcelette, Martinpuich and Flers.
Thomas’ death is believed to be at Courcelette.
[1] The 25th Battalion (Nova Scotia Rifles), CEF (also known as "MacKenzie Battalion", "Master Raiders", "Raiding Battalion") was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the Great War. It was the first of three to be raised entirely in Nova Scotia during the war. The 25th served in Belgium and France as part of the 5th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Divisionfrom 16 September 1915 until the end of the war. Regimental headquarters were established at the Halifax Armouries, with recruitment offices in Sydney, Amherst, New Glasgow, Truro and Yarmouth. Of the 1000 Nova Scotians that started with the battalion, after the first year of fighting, 100 were left in the battalion, while 900 men were killed, taken prisoner, missing or injured. (Wikipedia)
