Hospital Farm Cemetery

Gazette entry for 8th June 1915

Sunderland Echo July 1912

Sunderland Echo Wednesday 13th April 1910

Thomas was born in Sunderland on the 10th July 1891. He was the only son of three children of the Reverend John Thomas Middlemiss, [born 1858, in Morpeth] F.S.A. Scotland, of 3 The Beeches, West Didsbury and his wife Eleanora Burnop, [born 1862, Sunderland] daughter of Magnus Mall. There were two younger sisters called Eileen [born 1893] and Mary [born 1896].

Thomas was educated at Taunton School.

J.T. Middlemiss was a Presbyterian minister and was associated amongst others with the North Bridge Street Church. In 1891, between April and July the family moved to Sunderland to 7 Dundas Street, with their servant.

Thomas was gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant on the 22nd March 1915 in the Royal Field Artillery. He was promoted to Lieutenant in July 1917. Thomas served in France and Flanders from June 1916.

He was killed in action near Ypres on the 17th October 1917 and was buried at Hospital Farm, Elverdinghe, North West of Ypres.

The Commanding Officer of the 63rd Royal Naval Divisional Artillery, wrote: By his death his country, and our Divisional Artillery have lost a very excellent officer, whom we could ill afford to lose. He was the life and soul of the mess, always cheerful under all conditions, and we shall miss him terribly. We shall cherish his memory, as he leaves behind him a host of friends who will often think of him. He was exceedingly well known and liked all over the division, infantry as well as artillery.

De Ruvigny Roll of Honour

Morpeth Herald 09/11/1917 carries a brief obituary:

News has been received that Lieut. T. Elmslie Middlemiss, Royal Field Artillery, was killed in action on October 17th. He was the only son of the Rev. J.T. and Mrs Middlemiss, The Beeches, West Didsbury, and grandson of the late Mr Geo. Middlemiss, Morpeth. Lieut. Middlemiss was 26 years of age.

In his Will dated 26th March he left effects of £483 14s 3d to his father John Thomas Middlemiss minister.

There was a re-union dinner for the 4th Northumbrian Howitzer Brigade in 1920, which was reported in the local newspaper.

Thomas Elmslie Middlemiss is remembered at Sunderland in S140.048 part 09 page 187

Northumbrian Gunner
The CWGC entry for Lieutenant Middlemiss