The AIF Project

Thomas BIRREL

Regimental number5805
Place of birthGlasgow, Scotland
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationFarm hand
AddressMeares Street, York, Western Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation19
Height5' 5"
Weight142 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Jemina Budge, Charles Street, Midland Junction, Western Australia
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date26 May 1916
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll26 May 1916
Place of enlistmentBelmont, Western Australia
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name27th Battalion, 16th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/44/4
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia, on board HMAT A16 Port Melbourne on 30 October 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll27th Battalion
FateDied of disease 13 March 1919
Miscellaneous details (Nominal Roll)*Surname BIRRELL
Date of death13 March 1919
Place of burialLes Baraques Military Cemetery (Plot VIII, Row G, Grave No. 18), Sangatte, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
109
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Son of Jemima BUDGE (FORMERLY Birrell), of Sayer Street, Midland Junction, Western Australia, and the late William BIRRELL. Native of Motherwell, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Fremantle, 30 October 1916; disembarked Devonport, England, 28 December 1916; marched into 7th Training Bn, Rollestone, 29 December 1916.

Proceeded overseas to France, 4 February 1917; marched into No 2 Australian Divisional Base Depot, Etaples, 4 February 1917.

Proceeded to unit, 8 February 1917; taken on strength of 27th Bn, 9 February 1917.

Wounded in action, 1 March 1917; admitted to No 5 Australian Field Ambulance, 1 March 1917 (shrapnel wound, left hand and buttock); transferred to No 3 Australian Casualty Clearing Station, no date stated; to No 31 Ambulance Train, 2 March 1917; to No 1 Canadian General Hospital, Etaples, 3 March 1917; to No 6 Convalescent Depot, Etaples, 16 March 1917; discharged and marched into 2nd Australian Divisional Base Depot, Etaples, 18 March 1917 (Class A).

Proceeded to unit, 23 March 1917; rejoined 27th Bn, 25 March 1917.

On leave to England, 3 February 1918; rejoined unit, 20 February 1918.

Found guilty, 24 February 1918, of being absent without leave from Tattoo, 17 February 1918, until 1400 hours, 23 February 1918: award, forfeits 14 days' pay, and total forfeiture of 21 days' pay.

Court of Enquiry, 12 September 1918, declares Private Birrel illegally absented himself without leave or other sufficient cause on 11 August 1918, and that he is still so absent.

Arrested, Amiens, 14 October 1918; rejoined 27th Bn, 16 October 1918.

Tried by Field General Court Martial, 25 October 1918, on a charge of desertion from 1400 hours, 11 August 1918, until 1900 hours, 14 October 1918: found guilty: award, 5 years' Penal servitude; sentence confirmed by Lieutenant Colonel F.R. Chalmers, Acting General Officer Commanding, 7th Bde, 26 October 1918, but sentence commuted to 2 years' Imprisonment with Hard Labour.

Marched into Safe Custody Compound, 28 October 1918.

Admitted to No 11 Military Prison, 8 December 1918.

Admitted to No 30 General Hospital, Calais, 4 March 1919 (not yet diagnosed).

Died, No 30 General Hospital, Calais, 13 March 1919 (influenza).

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, BIRREL Thomas

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