A Great War 1917 ‘Passchendaele’ M.M. group of five awarded to Private T. Geange, 1st Battalion, Wellington Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, who distinguished himself, 4 October 1917, by single-handedly charging a machine gun crew armed only with a revolver. He was wounded in action twice during the Great War, including for his M.M. action

Military Medal, G.V.R. (10-2151 Pte. T. Geange. 1/Well: R.); 1914-15 Star (10/2151 Pte. T. Geange N.Z.E.F.); British War and Victory Medals (10/2151 Pte. T. Geange N.Z.E.F.) rank omitted from BWM; War Medal 1939-45, mounted for display, generally good very fine (5) £700-900

M.M. London Gazette 17 December 1917. The original recommendation states:

‘East of Ypres on the 4th October 1917 this Lewis Gunner displayed the very greatest bravery and devotion to duty. His section and another were held up by an enemy machine gun and for a time no-one could see its position. At last seeing where it was located, this soldier, whose Lewis Gun was out of action, rushed boldly forward against the enemy machine gun, armed only with a revolver. His fine example led another to follow him and together they rushed the gun. Both were wounded and his companion has since died, but the prompt and gallant action of this man gave time for the rest of his section and the gun was immediately captured and the crew killed. His courage and devotion to duty were an example and an incentive to his comrades.’

Thomas Geange was born in Upper Hutt, New Zealand, in February 1885. He enlisted in the 1st Battalion, Wellington Regiment, at Trentham, 16 July 1915. Geange joined his Battalion in the Gallipoli theatre of war, 11 August 1915, but was evacuated ‘sick’ to Mudros, 19 September 1915. He embarked for France in April 1916, and was twice wounded in action - 8 June 1917 and 4 October 1917.

Geange returned to New Zealand in the S.S. Pakeha, 30 May 1919, and was discharged 27 June 1919. He died in September 1964.

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