Person    | Male 

Andrew Behan has kindly carried out some research on this man:
Pioneer John Henry Thomas Gast.   Born in 1880 in Marylebone, London, the son of Thomas Hunt Gast and Mary Gast. His father was a Carpet Cutter and in April 1881 the family were living at 6 Barrett Street, Marylebone. By April 1891 they had moved to 9 Fitzroy Square, St. Pancras, and in November 1898 he was appointed as a Postman in West London. In March 1901 he was boarding at “Star Stables”, Lambs Conduit Street, Holborn. On the 24^th September 1910 he married Minnie Elizabeth Millross at All Souls’ Church, Harlesden, and he was at this time living at 91 Warwick Avenue, Paddington. By March 1911 they had moved to 34 Walterton Road, Paddington. When he enlisted on the 4^th December 1915 they were living at 175 Ashmore Road, Maida Hill and he joined the Postal Section, London Depot of the Royal Engineers, service number 144122. He was posted to the Egyptian Expeditionary Force from the 19^th September 1917 until the 18^th June 1918 when he was returned to England and was discharged on the 24^th August 1918 as no longer fit for service. He died on the 22^nd March 1919, aged 38 years, in the London County Asylum, Hanwell, Middlesex, and is buried in Grave I.C.15189 at Paddington Old Cemetery, Willesden Lane, Kilburn. Administration of his estate was granted to his widow on the 5^th May 1919 who by then was living at 10 Denholme Road, Maida Hill, and his effects amounted to £243 13s 7d. He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.