Person

Thomas was the eldest of four sons (Thomas, William, Herbert, Joseph) born to Joseph Pollard Gentles and his wife Jane (nee Martin) on 4th May 1889 at 8 Marine Approach, Westoe, South Shields, and baptised three weeks later at St.Hilda’s Church. Joseph was a mariner who had passed his mate’s certificate in 1888 and became a Captain in December 1891. At the time of the 1901 census, Joseph was on board the vessel South Wood docked at Boston, Lincolnshire, whilst Jane was at their home at 108 South Woodbine Street, South Shields with the boys. A life at sea must have lost its appeal as Joseph applied for and got a land grant in Saskatchewan, Canada and the family left England on 19th February 1903, sailing steerage class on board the Numidian. The family started a successful farm at Biggar, near Saskatoon where Thomas worked until June 1915 when he passed his medical for enlistment in the Canadian Expeditionary Force and proceeded to Sewell, Manitoba to enlist as Private 114572 in the 9th Canadian Mounted Rifles on 1st July. He embarked for England, arriving at the beginning of December, being posted first to Bramshott, then Ashford, from where he met and married Phillis May Pearson from Great Ayton on 1st May 1916. (According to his service record this marriage received approval in October the following year).

On 23rd March 1917, Thomas was granted 12 weeks furlough to Canada, without pay and for which he paid his own fare, which was later extended by another 4 weeks until 16th July. He was then posted to 12 Special Services Company based in Regina, until he was discharged from the army on compassionate grounds on 29th January 1918 with the rider that “should he leave the farm at any time he will immediately by brought up under the Military Service Act”. Meanwhile his wife Phillis had arrived in Canada and was living at the farm with their daughter Jennie, to be followed by Eleanor (Nellie), Robert and Thomas Jr.

Thomas worked on the farm for many years, including through the Great Depression of the 1930s, but he was also an accomplished carpenter and in later life built many constructions around Saskatoon and Edmonton.

Joseph, his father, died in 1944, followed by his mother in 1952 and Thomas and Phillis moved into an apartment on 124th Street, Edmonton.
According to family research Joseph died in 1977 in Edmonton, and Phillis in 1988.

Civil Parish: South Shields

Birth date: 04-May-1889

Death date: 1977

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: 8 Marine Approach, Westoe (birthplace)
108 South Woodbine Street, South Shields (1901 census)
Biggar, Saskatchewan (1910 Canadian census)
124th Street, Edmonton (Canadian Voters’ lists) (after war)

Employment: Farmer (1910 Canadian census)

Family: Parents: Joseph Pollard Gentles, Jane Martin
Siblings: William, Herbert, Joseph
Wife: Phillis May Pearson
Children: Jennie, Nellie, Robert, Thomas

Military service:

Private 114572
9th Canadian Mounted Rifles
12 Special Services Company

Gender: Male

Contributed by Jayell, Durham