In From The Cold - 23.04.08

[Terry Denham]

CWGC added the following 'new' WW1 casualty to its Debt of Honour database today – Wednesday 23rd April

Capt Bryan Montague TUKE MC

Royal Army Medical Corps

Died 21.07.19 Age 29

Buried: Jamestown Cemetery, Eastern Cape, South Africa

NOT FORGOTTEN

[chrisharley9]

MAY HE REST IN PEACE

[Neil Clark]

Another one of my men and a very sad story -

Captain Bryan Montague TUKE MC. Royal Army Medical Corps. Attached 25th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Formerly Lance Sergeant (October 1909) London University Officer Training Corps (LUOTC). Died Pulmonary Tubercolosis T.B and Angina Pectoris 14 January 1921 at Jamestown Hospital, Jamestown, South Africa. Born Hollingbourne, Maidstone, Kent 21 June 1890 (Quarter 3, 1890, Hollingbourne, 2a, 739). Son of George M and Helena Nean Tuke of Chart Road, Sutton Valence, Maidstone, Kent. Very Severe Shell Gas Poisoning 17th September 1918 at Villers Faucon, France. Admitted to the Prince of Wales Hospital, Marylebone, London 5 October 1918 following gassing. Suffering from gas–blepharospasm and pain in chest. Discharged Prince of Wales Hospital 26 November 1918. Returned to the Limes, Sutton Valence, Maidstone, Kent. 20 December 1918 then further admited Chatham Naval Hospital, Chatham, Kent.

This man had close links to Hollingbourne and Sutton Valence.

His service papers record a letter from the British Red Cross Society (BRCS), 83 Pall Mall, London dated 10th January 1919 in which Georgina Dudley writes to a Captain Cotterell at Room 114, War Office, Whitlehall, London stating –

“Captain B.M TUKE MC, has been suffering from T.B of the left lung, and has been given 3 months sick leave. With a recommendation to go to Arcachon (South Africa)".

I should be very pleased to arrange his journey and accomodation there at the Hotel Regina, where he will be under the care of Dr. Festal. If you would kindly obtain permission for him to go abroad.”

This would explain why we have not been able to trace his death on the GRO indexes - He died overseas - Dr. B. M. TUKE, aged 30 years, married, Medical Practitioner, Sailed from London for Durban, South Africa, on 10 Dec 1920 aboard “Bullard King” Line steamship UMVUMA (Capt. A.T.Clarke), Country of Intended Permanent Residence: Zululand, South Africa. His wife didn't go with him, though.

South African Archives – Hits on B.M TUKE

http://www.national.archsrch.gov.za/sm300cv/smws/sm300dl

Tuke, Bryan Montague. Liquidation and Distribution Account. First Account. (1925) - Source: MOOC; Vol. 13/1/5463; Ref: 3644

Tuke, Bryan Montague. Estate Papers (1924) - Source: MOOC; Vol. 6/9/2565; Ref: 3355

Tuke, Bryan Montague. Liquidation and Distribution Account. Second Account. (1926) - Source: MOOC; Vol. 13/1/5657; Ref: 1999

Bryan’s father George M Tuke was born in Deal, Kent abt 1854. He was also a Medical Doctor and a member of the M.R.C.S England.

Miltary Cross (MC)

London Gazette records – 24 August 1918

Royal Army Medical Corps

Special Reserve

“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He went forward himself with the attacking companies, and throughout the engagement kept moving from one part of the line to another in full view of the enemy, attending to the wounded with the greatest promptitude and courage.”

London Gazette records - 25 September 1919

Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC)

Captain Bryan M TUKE MC, relinquishes command on account of ill health contracted on active service, 21st July 1919, and retains the rank of Captain.

1881 census-

Chart Road, Sutton Valence

George M TUKE (aged 27 years in 1881)

Helena N

Arthur A

Sarah A BIRSHALL

Annie BIRSHALL

Sutton Vallence Grammar School (Cloth Workers Company)

Reginald TUKE Scholar/Boarder Borden Kent

1891 Census –

Sutton Valence

Crow Place

Arthur C.M TUKE 10

Bryan M 9 months

Cecil M 7

George M Surgeon

Helena

Reginald M 2

Rowland M 4

Plus 2 servants

1901 census

Upper Street, Sutton Valence

George M TUKE

Helena B

Reginald M 12

Shirley J.M 8

Plus 3 servants

Some info on his father from The Marlborough College Register -

George Montague TUKE

son of Rev.F.E.Tuke, Borden Kent

born 11 March 1854

Marlborough College Feb.1868 to Christmas 1870

St. Bart's Hospital MRCS 1876

MOH Hollingbourne Rural District

Died The Limes, Sutton Vallence, 20 August 1930

Before the outbreak of war Bryan was a Medical Practitioner (Surgeon) like his father before him. Employed at the Middlesex Hospital, Middlesex.

Further Family Information

Parents:

George Montague TUKE married Helena Beatson NEWINGTON, Q4 1879, in St George Hanover Square RD (while working at St. Bart's Hospital?) ref. vol.1a p.697.

Siblings:

Arthur Campbell Montague TUKE, b. Q1 1881 Hollingbourne, m. (Kathleen HOLLANDS or Constance Clifford BROWN) Q4 1902 Hastings RD

Cecil Montague TUKE, b. Q2 1883 Hollingbourne

Rowland Montague TUKE, b. Q4 1886 Hollingbourne (1901 census: age 14, Cadet Private, "School Boy Seas", "River Thames Off Greenhithe", m. Gladys FAULKE Q3 1916 Gosford RD

Reginald Montague TUKE, b. Q4 1888 Hollingbourne RD, Pte & Capt in ASC in WWI http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...Edoc_Id=5837197, m. Gladys Margaret BATCHELLER Q1 1925 Maidstone RD

Bryan Montague TUKE, b. Q3 1890 Hollingbourne (ref. 2a 739)

Shirley John Montague TUKE, b. Q4 1892 Hollingbourne, prob. Lt & A/Maj in ASC in WWI ( http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...Edoc_Id=5837200 - if Sidney is a transcription error!), m. Mary G. NEWMAN Q4 1919 Hastings RD, OBE, Major in RASC in WW2, died 8/8/1940, age 47, Oxford RD, buried Aldershot

Bryan’s uncle Edward also went to Marlborough College –

Edward Henry TUKE

born 31 October 1852

Marlborough College - February 1867 to Mid.1868

Then Lancing College

Braesnose College, Oxford

Holy Orders 1876

Rector of West Lulling, Shropshire 1879-1915

Died 9 June 1915

Bryan’s service papers conclude that he was “very severely wounded on 17 September 1918. Granted leave to 20 March 1919. Reported for duty on 20 March 1919 still unfit for service. 31 March 1919 requires sanatorium treatment! Instructed to return home by a Doctor at Chatham Military Hospital pending very urgent admission to a sanitorium. Admitted Central Military Hospital, Chatham 7 April 1919 transferred to the Pandy …..? Hall Sanitorium, Wales on 20 April 1919. Admitted Military Hospital, Bangor, Wales 14 July 1919 very seriously ill. At this time it was confirmed he was permanently unfit for further military service. Still serving 8 September 1919. He finally relinquished his commission “on account of ill health contracted on active service”. He was placed on the non-active reserve list at this time.

Bronchitus and breathing difficulties. Morning cough and expectoration. Lungs – rough inspiration sounds on left, adventitious sounds in other parts of chest cavity. No T.B found 21 January 1920. This contradicts another document which states Pulmonary Tubercolosis T.B.

This man’s name appears to have been added after the war memorial had been constructed. It is more than likely that he died of wounds after the war. The parish council after carrying out their own investigation decided to add his name because his death was found to have been aggravated or caused as a consequence of his war service. There are literally tens of thousands of men like this whose names were never recorded on the death indexes…

Active Service

Gallipoli / Salonika July 1915 to October 1918

Macedonia / Egypt / Palastine / France October 1918 21 July 1919

It is patently clear for all to see here that this brave officer was severely gassed on active service and his lungs were very severely damaged. On 10 January 1919 The Red Cross confirmed T.B was present and that he had been given 3 months! At some stage Bryan was advised to go to South Africa to get treatment. He left the UK and died soon after arriving there! His death certificate obtained from South Africa (Western Cape Province Record Office) gives 2 causes of death both of which are consequental to gas poisoning (Agina and T.. This case is quite straightforward – no wonder his name was placed on the Sutton Valence civic tribute…

R.I.P .....

[Will O'Brien]

Raising a glass to the memory of Bryan tonight. Well done Neil, you obviously went to great lengths on this one.

[apwright]

Well done, Neil!

Rest in Peace, Bryan.

Adrian

P.S. ... but just wondering how he "Died 21.07.19 Age 29" in South Africa when he "Sailed from London for Durban, South Africa, on 10 Dec 1920", "aged 30".

[Neil Clark]

I have already had a word about the incorrect date of death. He died in 1921 NOT 1919!

[alanh]

Well done Neil