ELKINGTON Thomas Garrett

Educated at Bromsgrove School and Peterhouse, Cambridge

Thomas Elkington was born in 1893.  He attended Bromsgrove School from 1906 to 1912 in Gordon House where he was a School Monitor and played for the School XI and the School XV.  He gained a Classical Scholarship at Peterhouse, Cambridge in 1911 and was preparing for the Civil Service when the war broke out.  Thomas enlisted in the 21^st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers and from there obtained a Commission in the Suffolk Regiment.  After serving for some time in France he was transferred to the 2^nd Battalion and was with it when he was dangerously wounded in the head on March 3^rd; he died the next day.  Like Spreckley, he was one of three Bromsgrovian brothers to whom the School owes much.  The elder was with the Gloucestershire Regiment, the younger a Midshipman on HMS Indomitable.

Source: Bromsgrove School at War 1914-19 by Philip Bowen and Bromsgrove School at War 1914-19 by David Cross.

Thomas Garrett Elkington is mentioned in the following report on his brother, Christopher Garrett Elkington, taken from the Bromsgrove Weekly Messenger, 3rd February 1917:
Christopher Garrett Elkington. Awarded DSO [Distinguished Service Order] (London Gazette, 20th January).  “With six men attacked and silenced enemy machine-gun.  Later he displayed great courage and ability in organising defence of position.  He was twice wounded but remained at duty directing operations until he was again severely wounded.” He was the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Hyla G. Elkington of Barnt Green. Educated at Bromsgrove School.  Before the war he was an auctioneer and surveyor at Warwick. Soon after the outbreak of war he joined the Artists’ Rifles, before being commissioned into the Gloucestershire Regiment.  His brother, 2nd Lt T.G. Elkington, Suffolk Regiment was killed in action in March last.  Christopher’s youngest brother is a Midshipman in the Royal Navy.

The following information has been researched and transcribed by Jeff Taylor:
Barnt Green Officer’s Death
Second Lieutenant Thomas Garrett Elkington, who was born on the 22 June 1893, the second son of Mr and Mrs Hyla Elkington, of €œTower Cottage€, Barnt Green, was wounded in the head on 2 March 1916 and Died two days later. He was educated at Bromsgrove School (1906-1912) gaining a Classical Scholarship at Peterhouse, Cambridge, in 1911, and was preparing for the Civil Service when the war broke out. He played both cricket and football for his school and college. In September 1914 he enlisted in the 21st (Public Schools) Battalion Royal Fusiliers, being granted a Temporary Commission in the 9th (Service) Battalion Suffolk Regiment on the 13 January 1915. He was eventually transferred to the 10th Battalion, and during October 1915, whilst in France, was attached to the 2nd Battalion. Second Lieutenant Elkington was one of three brothers to attend Bromsgrove School, the elder serving with the Gloucestershire Regiment (Captain) and the younger as a Midshipman in the Royal Navy.