New Zealand machine gunner's grave rededicated in Passchendaele

(Photo: Eric Compernolle BEM).

The grave of Corporal Thomas Nigel McFarland, No. 1 Company, New Zealand Machine Gun Corps was rededicated at CWGC Passchendaele New British Cemetery, Belgium on 7 July 2026.

His final resting place was identified after research was submitted to the CWGC. With further detailed research analysed by the New Zealand Defence Force, it was adjudicated that the grave of an unknown Corporal in Passchendaele New British Cemetery was that of Corporal Thomas Nigel McFarland.

The service was organised by the New Zealand Embassy to Brussels and was attended by the New Zealand Ambassador and members of the McFarland family His grave is now marked with a newly inscribed Commission headstone to be cared for in Perpetuity.

Corporal Thomas Nigel McFarland

Corporal Thomas Nigel McFarland (Photo: copyright unknown), Members of the McFarland family beside his headstone (Photo: Eric Compernolle BEM).

Thomas was born in Ellerslie, Auckland, New Zealand on 6 August 1890 to Charles William and Annie McFarland, he also had a brother, Robert. Thomas was educated at Blenheim Public School and Blenheim High School.

Thomas joined the Bank of New South Wales and was working in their Lawrence, South Otago branch as a clerk before enlisting in Milton on 14 August 1914, just days after the war started. Prior to enlistment, he had served in the 14th Regiment, Territorial Force.

He joined the Otago Infantry Battalion, a part of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. The Battalion embarked from Wellington on 16 October 1914 aboard HMNZT 9 Hawkes Bay and HMNZT 5 Ruapehu to Suez, Egypt, then transferred to Gallipoli.

Thomas was wounded at Gallipoli on 12 May 1915 and was shipped to England to recover. He rejoined his unit on 16 July 1915 before their transfer to the Western Front. Sometime during 1916, he transferred to the New Zealand Machine Gun Corps.

According to records, he was appointed Lance Corporal on 2 June 1916 but relinquished the rank at his own request soon after on 27 June 1916.

On 22 July 1917, he was wounded in action again and admitted to the 22nd General Hospital, Rouen with a gunshot wound to his left leg. Thomas was promoted to Corporal on 19 September 1917, however, only 23 days later, he was killed in action on 12 October 1917 at Abraham’s Heights, Passchendaele, Belgium, aged 27.

Thomas’ body was later recovered and buried in CWGC Passchendaele New British Cemetery but marked as an unknown Corporal of the New Zealand Machine Gun Corps.

(Photo: Eric Compernolle BEM).