Private Geoffrey Tinegate, OA 1914,
9th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. Killed in action Gallipoli 10 August 1915
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| Geoffrey Tinegate was born on 8 March 1898. His father, Mr EW Tinegate, was a timber merchant in Birmingham and the family lived at The Grange in Handsworth. |
Geoffrey Tinegate’s entry in the Admissions Register
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| Geoffrey came to Abingdon School in September 1912 when he was 14. He only stayed two years but from the references to him in The Abingdonian, the school magazine, we can see that he was a keen gymnast and sportsman who rowed, swam and played football. |
 Abingdon School gymnasts, early twentieth century |
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He left Abingdon in March 1914 soon after his 16th birthday in order to join his father’s timber business. War broke out five months later and the following month, September 1914, Geoffrey enlisted in the Worcestershire Regiment – he was still only 16. The minimum age for enlistment was 18, and the minimum age for serving overseas was 19.
Geoffrey Howarth Tinegate (18) missing believed killed August 10 1915 at Chunuk Bahr – official account “Last seen unconscious with telephone instrument in his hand.” Was a signaller in 9th Worcesters. Joined up on outbreak of war, six months after leaving school. Note, Geoffrey’s age is given as 18. |
 Geoffrey Tinegate |
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On 24 June 1915 Geoffrey’s battalion, the 9th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, set sail for Gallipoli. They arrived on 14 July and on 6 August were involved in an attack on Chunuk Bair, a mountainous ridge held by the Turks. In the chaotic fighting it is believed that the 9th Worcesters may have captured a section of the ridge but that on 10 August they were then beaten back by a Turkish counter-attack. At the end of the day Geoffrey was missing presumed killed. He was 17 and 5 months. 
In May 2010 Geoffrey Tinegate’s medals – 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal – were donated to the School by his sister.
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Geoffrey’s name is recorded, along with those of more than 20,000 other members of the British armed services on the Cape Helles Memorial, Gallipoli.
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