Private Thomas Mallinder

Army Number : 12903

Battalion : 9th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys) Regiment.

Son of Mrs. Clara Tulley, of 87, Portland Street, Clowne, Chesterfield.

“POETRY FOUND ON A FALLEN SOLDIER.

“Former Clowne Footballer Killed.

“EXPERIENCES WITH THE NINTH SHERWOOD FORESTERS.

“Another Clowne soldier to make the supreme sacrifice is Private Tom Tulley (Sic) (9th Sherwood Foresters), whose home was at 52 North Road. The information came in a letter fro his commanding officer, who said that Private Tulley (Sic)was killed by a shell, death being almost instantaneous, and a similar message was received from Private Arthur Marshall, who was a bosom friend of the deceased. Writing to his parents, who live in High Street, Clowne, Private Marshall says he saw his pal killed, and he had a miraculous escape himself.

“The fallen soldier, who was 23 years of age, enlisted a fortnight after the war broke out, and was one of the first to offer his services. He was last in Clowne at Whitsuntide, and a fortnight later he went to the Dardanelles, where he has met his fate. A pathetic feature is that a letter was received from him by Mr. Chas. Watson, North Road, Clowne, only on Monday morning [27th September 1915], the letter being dated 2 September, and two days later Private Tulley (Sic) was killed.

“Gave Himself Up For Finished.

“Tulley wrote as follows: “Dear Charlie, I am pleased to say I am going on first rate out here in the Dardanelles, but I wish I had been in France instead as it is far too hot for my liking. About a fortnight ago I managed to tun up against the Derbyshire Yeomanry, and I saw Bill Nicholson, Stanfree, and several from Creswell. They went into action the same day as we did [21st August 1915], and since then I have neither seen nor heard anything of them. You will, I suppose, have seen our casualty list in the papers by now, but both Arthur Marshall and I keep coming through smiling to ourselves. In the last affair I gave myself up for finished, and afterwards we got released from the trenches and got back in reserve. I shook hands with myself. We have had a week’s rest since then, but have gone in the trenches again to have another smack at the terrible Turks. About three weeks ago I had my photo taken with some Turkish prisoners. It was taken by a French sailor. It does seem a bit off, three of us in action and all separated from each other. It would have been much better if we had all been in the same lot.”

“Sergeant Tribute.

“Deceased mother, who lives at 87 Portland Road, Clowne, received the following message from Sergeant J. J. Marsh (9th Sherwood Foresters, “C” Company): “You will wonder why I am writing to you, but I thought I would drop you a line about your son, who I am sorry to say got hit rather seriously with a shell. It happened about 6 p.m., on 4 September [illegible] …ing to him and two others at the time and I am sorry to say the other two got hit as well. I regret to inform you that your poor son only lived about a minute after being struck. I hope you will accept my deepest sympathy in your sad loss, and I must say your son was very much respected by all of us, and we feel his death keenly. He was laid to rest the same night, and a cross has been erected to his memory. On a slip of paper I found the following lines of poetry he had written sometime before his death:-

“A Hero.

“Nameless his grave on battlefield gory,
“Only a cross o’er mound of brown earth;
“Died in the pride of his youth and his glory.
“Far from his home and the land of his birth.
“None near to mourn him save willows that are weeping,
“Bend o’er his grave where flowers springing anew.
“Cover the place where a hero is sleeping,
“Silently falling their tear drops of dew.

“Private Tulley (Sic) was well-known and respected in Clowne, and in the ranks of football enthusiasts was very popular. Formerly he played for Clowne United Methodist Church. He was employed at the Creswell Colliery. One of his comrades, Private J. H. Watson (6th Sherwood Foresters) is in France, and in his final letter deceased wished to be remembered to him.”

‘Derbyshire Courier’, 28th September 1915.

Died : 4th September 1915, 22.

Commemorated : Helles Memorial, Turkey. Panel 150 to 152.