801298 Gunner John William Thurgood was a patient at Beechland House at some time between November 1917 and March 1918.  His entry in Nurse Oliver’s album, which has been heavily overwritten in blue biro at a later date, reads:

801298 Gnr J W Thurgood

C/295 Brdg  RFA

He shares this page with entries from Private Angus McKenzie of the 1/5th Seaforth Highlanders, Corporal W R D F Reynolds of the 3rd Royal Fusiliers, 21/1522 Private Charles Edward Harrald of the 24th Northumberland Fusiliers and 21370 Lance-Corporal John William Williams of the 24/27th Northumberland Fusiliers.

He was born around February 1890, probably in or around Grimsby in Lincolnshire and was the son of John and Elizabeth Thurgood.

He attested with the 2/1st North Midland Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery on 19th May 1915 and was given the army service number 1722.  This was a Territorial Force unit and C/295 (or C/CCXCV Bde as it is more correctly written) had its origins in the Grimsby and Cleethorpes area of England.  A medical inspection noted that John was 25 years and 101 days old and was five feet, ten inches tall.  He was passed fit for service.

His badly damaged service record exists at the National Archives in London and although much of the information is unclear or obliterated, it is possible to piece together his basic service history.  He remained in England until March 1917 and, when the Territorial Force was re-numbered in February 1917, was given the number he quotes in Nurse Oliver’s album: 801298.  On 21st June 1915 he was posted to the 3rd Battery and on 11th March the following year was married.  His wife’s Christian name appears to be Grace but the document is badly damaged and it is difficult to make out her maiden name.  On 11th March 1917 he wrote a will leaving his estate to his wife and, two days later, was in France.

He remained in France until 28th October 1917 when he was either wounded or gassed, probably at Passchendaele.  His service record is again unclear but it would appear that he came home to recuperate and it was during this period that he spent time at Beechland House in Newick.

On 30th March 1918 he was back in France and remained there until 28th October 1918.  It would appear that he returned to England probably suffering from trench fever.  “PUO” is written on his papers and he spent time at a number of hospitals including military hospitals at Colchester and Purfleet. By this stage, relations with his wife had broken down and on 6th April 1918 he stopped allowances to her and wrote another will leaving his estate to his mother. 

John was discharged from the army on 6th March 1919 but died of appendicitis three months later on 4th June 1919.  He is buried under a Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) headstone at Grimsby (Scartho Road) Cemetery; grave reference: 57.I.15.  The CWGC gives the additional information (also included on his service papers) that he was the son of John and Elizabeth Thurgood of 7 Pyewipe Road, West Marsh, Grimsby.

Sources and Acknowledgements

·       The National Archives: Medal Index Card

·      The National Archives: British War and Victory Medal Roll: RFA / 140B TF: Page 8033

·      The National Archives: Service Record of John William Thurgood: WO 363/T539