12 Facts About Thomas Nangle

Thomas Matthew Mary Nangle was a Newfoundland cleric and diplomat.

Thomas Nangle served as the military chaplain of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment during World War I In his later life, he moved to Southern Rhodesia, where he became a farmer and was briefly elected to their Legislative Assembly.

Thomas Nangle was educated at St Bonaventure College before attending All Hallows College seminary in Dublin and St Patrick's, Carlow College in Ireland.

Thomas Nangle was ordained in the Roman Catholic priesthood in 1913 at the Basilica of St John the Baptist in St John's.

Thomas Nangle became the regiment's padre and eventually gained the rank of lieutenant-colonel.

Thomas Nangle was made the country's representative on the Imperial War Graves Commission in London, where he supervised the construction of memorials to Newfoundland soldiers.

In 1926, Thomas Nangle abruptly left the priesthood and emigrated to Southern Rhodesia in Africa.

In Rhodesia, Thomas Nangle became a farmer and married a local woman.

Thomas Nangle became politically active and helped establish the Reform Party, which formed the government in the 1933 election under Godfrey Huggins.

Thomas Nangle was elected that year to the Southern Rhodesian Legislative Assembly as the Reform Member of Parliament for Salisbury District.

Thomas Nangle twice attempted to return to the legislative assembly as a candidate for the Rhodesia Labour Party in 1946 and 1948, but he was defeated in both elections.

Thomas Nangle died in Rhodesia in 1972 at the age of 83.