Regimental number | 86 |
Place of birth | Hammersmith, London, England |
School | Flora Gardens Board School, Hammersmith, London, England |
Age on arrival in Australia | 26 |
Religion | Church of England |
Occupation | Platelayer |
Marital status | Single |
Age at embarkation | 27 |
Height | 5' 6" |
Weight | 146 lbs |
Next of kin | Mother, Mrs Mary Ball, 37 Homefield Road, Chiswick, London |
Previous military service | Nil |
Enlistment date | |
Place of enlistment | Sydney, New South Wales |
Rank on enlistment | Sapper |
Unit name | 1st Field Company Engineers |
AWM Embarkation Roll number | 14/20/1 |
Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board Transport A19 Afric on |
Rank from Nominal Roll | Sapper |
Unit from Nominal Roll | 1st Field Company Engineers |
Fate | Died of wounds |
Place of death or wounding | Ypres, Belgium |
Age at death | 30 |
Place of burial | Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery (Plot XIX, Row D, Grave No. 16A), Belgium |
Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 23 |
Other details |
War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front Proceeded to join Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, 3 March 1915; admitted to 6th Field Ambulance, Anzac, 15 September 1915 (brused back); transferred to 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station, Anzac, 15 September 1915; to Hospital Ship, 15 September 1915; to 1st Auxiliary Hospital, Heliopolis, Egypt, 19 September 1915; to Convalescent Home, Has-el-Tin, 19 October 1915 (sprained back); discharged to Base, 15 November 1915. Found guilty at Court Martial, 7 January 1916, of (1) when on active service striking his superior officer, in that he at Ghezireh Camp on night of 12 December 1915 about 10.20 pm, struck Lance Corporal J. Lewis in the face, while acting as M.P. Corporal at Overseas Base , who ar the time was in command of an escort taking him to guard tent; (2) using insubordinate language to a superior officer in that he at Ghezireh Camp about 10.20 pm on 12 December 1915 said to Sergeant W. Bommet acting as Provost Sergeant at Overseas Base: "Oh Military Police we all know what they are a bunch of cold-footed Bastards. You never find them in the firing line. I'll be even with you though. I will wait for you in the dark" and to Lance Corporal Lewis he said: "as for you, you Jew faced bastard I will be even with you" or words to that effect: awarded 62 days Detention. Transferred to Detention at Citadel, 19 January 1916. Rejoined unit, Serapeum, 14 March 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join British Expeditionary Force, 21 March 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 28 March 1916. Appointed Lance Corporal, France, 1 April 1916. To hospital, France, 18 August 1916 (pleurisy); rejoined unit, 23 August 1916. Found guilty, 25 November 1916, of being absent from 9 am parade and remaining absent till 6 pm, 22 November 1916: forfeited a total of 1 days pay. Granted 10 days furlough, 9 January 1917; rejoined unit, 2 February 1917. Found guilty, 22 April 1917, of being drunk when on active service: reduced to rank of Sapper. Wounded in action, Belgium, 17 September 1917; admitted to 2nd Canadian Casualty CLearing Station, 17 September 1917 (shrapnel wound, buttock); died of wounds, 18 September 1917 (shrapnel wound, left buttock, penetrating abdomen). Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
Sources | NAA: B2455, BALL Thomas |