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During the First World War, Cairo was the headquarters to the United Kingdom garrison in Egypt. With Alexandria, it became the main hospital centre for Gallipoli and later in the war it dealt with the sick and wounded from operations in Palestine and Egypt. |
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William Thomas Bleeks was born on 28th August 1890 in the Stewartstown area. |
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The 1901 census lists William as age 10, living with the family at house 3 in Glebe, Stewartstown. His father was an agricultural labourer. |
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William enlisted in Dungannon, joining the Connaught Rangers, Army Number: 9457. |
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He was subsequently transferred to the Machine-Gun Corps. |
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By 1918 William was serving in Palestine where he fell ill and was transferred to hospital in Cairo. |
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William Bleeks was a son of James and Elizabeth Bleeks. James Bleeks married Bessie McKnight on 14th March 1876 in the district of Cookstown. |
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Private William Thomas Bleeks is buried in Cairo War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt. |
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William Thomas Bleeks is commemorated on Stewartstown Cenotaph and Donaghendry Church of Ireland Roll of Honour. |
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The CWGC record Private William Thomas Bleeks as the son of James and Elizabeth Bleeks of North Street, Stewartstown, County Tyrone |
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Possible family: James Bleeks, Lizzie Bessie Bleeks, John Bleeks (born 7th April 1877), George Bleeks (born 23rd April 1879), Lizzie Bleeks (born 1th December 1881), Catherine Bleeks (born 7th December 1883), James Bleeks (born 14th July 1886), Robert Bleeks (born 15th August 1888), William Thomas Bleeks (born 28th August 1890), Anne Bleeks (born 21st September 1892), Garves / Jennis Bleeks (male, born 12th January 1895), Margaret Bleeks (born 4th January 1897), Henry Bleeks (born 21st January 1899). |
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Private William Thomas Bleeks was serving with the 3rd Indian Division of the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) when he died of illness on Thursday 17th October 1918. |
