Thomas James McCristell
| Thomas James McCristell | |
|---|---|
| Born |
26 November 1873 Newbridge, Kildare, Ireland |
| Died | 7 November 1946 (aged 68) Wellington, New Zealand |
| Allegiance |
 New Zealand
|
| Service/branch |
 New Zealand Army
|
| Years of service | 1891–1920 |
| Rank | Lieutenant colonel |
| Unit | Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Wellington Rifle Volunteers 17th Wellington Regiment Defence Stores Department New Zealand Army Ordnance Department |
| Awards |
Order of the British Empire India Medal Queen's South Africa Medal |
Thomas James McCristell (1855–1946) was a professional soldier of the British and New Zealand Army, who served in India, South Africa who progressed through the ranks to become the Head of the New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps and New Zealand Army Ordnance Department on their formation in 1917.
A native of Newbridge, County Kildare in Ireland, born on 26 November 1873, McCristell enlisted at an early age into the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Serving with the 2nd Battalion, McCristell saw active service in India, taking part in the Tirah Campaign of 1897.
Serving in South Africa from 1899, McCristell served in the Transvaal and Orange River Colony operations between November 1900 and May 1901 and in late 1902 McCristell departed for New Zealand on the steamer Whakatane.
Arriving in Wellington, McCristell was soon living in Denniston and active in the local Volunteer Forces. By 1909 he had attained the rank of Staff Sergeant Major in the 5th Battalion of the Wellington Rifle Volunteers and providing instruction from Featherston in the south to Woodville in the North. In March 1911 McCristell was appointed as a Sergeant Major in the Permanent Forces in the position of Area Non Commissioned officer in the Wairarapa region.
Early in 1913 the Defence Department made available seven commissions for the New Zealand Staff Corps (NZSC). McCristell was one of eighteen NCO candidates and one of the first seven to receive a commission in the NZSC, and by March had been promoted to Lieutenant. McCristell was appointed Adjutant to the 2nd Battalion, 17th Wellington Regiment in April 2013. In December 1913 sat the examination board for promotion to Captain, and promoted in February March 1914.
With the mass mobilisation of New Zealand Forces McCristell was appointed as the Camp Quartermaster for Trentham Camp, where he was responsible for the housing and feeding of several thousand new recruits. In April 1916 McCristell was appointed as Major James O'Sullivan's successor as Director of Equipment and Ordnance Stores. Defence Stores Department at Buckle Street, Wellington.
In 1917 the decision was made that after close to 50 years service to the nation, on 1 April 1917 the Department would be replaced with a New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps (NZAOC) and a New Zealand Army Ordnance Department (NZAOD).
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