Thomas Reid Inch was born in New Plymouth on 6 August 1868 to Thomas and Mary Inch. He was the fourth of eleven children and the family’s first son. Around 1874, Thomas Sr planted a pōhutukawa tree on the corner of Leach and Cameron Streets in New Plymouth. By the late 1930s, the tree was regarded as one of the finest pōhutukawa in New Zealand, admired for its beauty and symmetry.
Thomas married Sarah Ann Urry in Stratford, Taranaki on the 31st of October 1888 at age 20 and began work as a Blacksmith. They had their first child, Ethel, in 1889 followed closely by Myrtle in 1891 and later Lionel Fred in 1898
Thomas joined the Inglewood Volunteer Rifle Corps and was there for around four years before moving to Wellington in 1902 and joined the New Zealand Permanent Militia Forces. He was listed as a pro gunner and worked and lived at the Alexandra Barracks. On his application, Thomas stated his birth date as 6 August 1874, making him six years older than his actual age. The discrepancy came to light in 1910 when Sarah disclosed his true age, and Thomas was subsequently reprimanded and had to forfeit two days pay.
Sarah had stayed in Taranaki and worked as a dressmaker. The first record of Sarah living in Wellington wasn’t until 1914 where she lived in Brooklyn with their daughter Myrtle. Myrtle married in 1917 and it appears Sarah then moved in with their son Lionel who was also living in Wellington. Sarah and Thomas never seemed to live together again after 1902 but remained married.
Thomas continued working for the Permanent Millita Forces and in March 1917 he was transferred to the NZ Army Ordnance Corps. By this time he was a Senior Sergeant Artificer.
In 1918 he was called up to join the Expeditionary forces however he successfully appealed for exemption on the grounds that he had specialist skills working in defence. This was supported by his boss who said he performed important and essential duties with the repair and maintenance of the Coast Defence Armament and field artillery which included the fitting up of guns on transport and merchant ships and that his place would be very difficult to fill.
In November 1924 at age 56 he was discharged due to reaching retirement age (the retirement age in the Ordnance Corps was 55 at the time) It appeared that he did not want to retire as he requested permission to appeal and get an extension for his services. He claimed that there was a precedent for retaining artificers in the service, he also said that he was quite strong and capable of giving his best for years to come and that his services in the workshops were required. He also said that his financial position was unsatisfactory but would be if he had about three more years of service. During his service he received the Meritorious-Service Medal, The Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and the Long and Efficient Service Medal. His appeal to extend work was declined as the Corps believed that a younger and more efficient man would be more desirable.
He found work as a labourer instead. In 1937 he at age 68 he joined the Wellington section of the New Zealand Permanent Force Old Comrades Association.
Thomas passed away at age 84 on the 1st of October 1951 and is buried at Karori Cemetery. His headstone and concrete ledger was erected by his comrades from the Old Comrades Association.
His wife Sarah had passed away two years before him and is buried just a few rows away from him in Ch Eng2 as well. Their second daughter, Myrtle, passed away two years after Thomas and is also buried at Karori Cemetery with her husband. Their only son Lionel moved to the USA where he became a stage actor and appeared in several Broadway productions. He is buried in Beth Olam Cemetery, Hollywood.
Plot: *Ch Eng 2/N/65
By Melinda Mackenzie
