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WW1
TYRRELL, JAMES THOMAS
FINE TRIBUTES. Letters received from men in the 40th Battalion show how greatly they respected Capt. J. T. Tyrrell, and how deeply they deplore his death. A letter which Mrs. G. J. Game of Calder, received from Lieut. C. W. Game, one of her sons in the 40th Battalion, is typical of many received in the district. In the course of his letter Lieut. Game says: — 'I cannot tell you how we all miss Capt. Tyrrell. His death was a sad blow to us in particular, and to the whole battalion, in general. It was a great shock to us, (but his example will inspire all to further efforts, and his memory will be cherished by all. His presence in trying times inspired confidence. The men would do anything for him and there is not one who would not have willingly given his life to spare him. He would not ask any one to do anything or go anywhere that he would not do or go himself. While at the front he seemed to have a charmed life, going about under fire quite fearlessly and conducting operations himself that he need not have done. One night I remember particularly and we were bring strafed by Fritz, and when it was all over we found that he had managed to get up to us through it all. He was killed the day after we had come out for our usual spell. He had gone up the street to attend a meeting, and was standing talking to other officers when a shell burst, and a fragment struck him in the back, killing him instantly. One of the others was wounded badly, and has since died. . . . . . It may be some consolation to Mrs. Tyrrell to know that Capt. Tyrrell was held in high esteem from the highest to the lowest and I can honestly say that he set a high standard for officers and men alike. Not only our own men, but men of other details who came in contact with him, speak highly of his courage and coolness. He never spared himself, and did duty time and again in order to relieve those of us who had to do a little extra. The few occasions on which we had opportunity to talk privately, he always spoke of home and what was going on. The last time I saw him was only an hour before he was killed. He left quite happy, whistling as he went up the street. In a letter to his mother Sid, a brother to the writer quoted above mentions that his brother Charlie had received his commission, and he (the writer) was now lance-sergt. Referring to the death of Capt. Tyrrell this writer says:— 'His death was a great loss to all ranks. The funeral was the day previous to that on which had wrote; 'nearly all the N.CO.'s of the company attended it, but unfortunately, I was not able to, as I had to take a working party to the trenches.' When Capt. Tyrrell was with the men he spent most of his time in the front line. He always had a cheerful word for everyone. It is strange to think that he could go about the front line and No Man's Land and not get a scratch, yet when he went back, a stray shell to get him.
The Mercury 7th April 1917 Photo Courtesy Jim Rouse
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LATE CAPTAIN TYRRELL.