The AIF Project

Thomas BURGESS

Regimental number5350
Place of birthBeenleigh, Queensland
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationLabourer
AddressSchool of Arts, Bundaberg, Queensland
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation32
Height5' 7.5"
Weight149 lbs
Next of kinFather, Mr S Burgess, Yatala, Queensland
Previous military serviceNil (Previously rejected on account of heart failure)
Enlistment date25 January 1916
Place of enlistmentBrisbane, Queensland
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name12th Battalion, 17th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/29/4
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board SS Hawkes Bay on 20 April 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll12th Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 2 January 1919
Discharge date11 April 1919
Other details

War service: proceeded overseas to France from England, 21 Augusat 1916; taken on strength, 12th Bn, 8 September 1916.

Attached a fettler to Anzac Corps Light Railways, 6 January 1917.

Admitted to 1st Field Ambulance, 3 February 1917 (injured rib), and transferred same day to 5th Divisional Rest Station; discharged to duty, 18 February 1917.

Admitted to Field Ambulance, 15 March 1917 (septic left foot); transferred to Divisional Rest Station, 16 March 1917; discharged to duty, 27 March 1917.

Admitted to 1st Field Ambulance, 6 April 1917 (cracked hands), transferred same day to 56th Casualty Clearing Station; to Divisional Rest Station; to 11th Stationary Hospital, Rouen, 9 April 1917; discharged to Base Details, 10 April 1917; taken on strength, Australian General Base Depot, 16 April 1917; struck off strength, 26 April 1917.

Ceased to be attached to Railways, and rejoined 12th Bn, 11 June 1917.

Proceeded on leave, Belgium, 21 October 1917; rejoined unit, France, 11 November 1917.

Admitted to 6th Australian Field Ambulance, 31 December 1917 (pyrexia unknown origin); transferred to 2nd Casualty Clearing Station, 5 January 1918; to 55th General Hospital, Boulogne, 9 January 1918; to England (trench fever), 10 January 1918, and admitted to Southwark War Hospital (condition severe), 10 January 1918; to 3rd Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, 30 January 1918; discharged on furlough, 4 February, to report to No 4 Command Depot, Hurdcott, 18 February. Marched out to Overseas Training Brigade, 13 March 1918. Proceeded overseas to France, 9 April 1918; rejoined unit, 21 April 1918.

Wounded in action, 9 May 1918 (shrapnel wound, left leg), and admitted to 3rd Field Ambulance; transferred same day to 15th Casualty Clearing Station; to 54th General Hospital, Etaples, 9 May 1918); to England, 12 May 1918, and admitted to Horton War Hospital, Epsom; to 3rd Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, 16 August 1918; discharged on furlough, 19 August, to report to No 3 Command Depot, Hurdcott, 2 September 1918. Marched out from No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, to No 1 Command Depot, Sutton Veny, 4 October 1918.

Married Elizabeth C. Gunn Mitchell, 25 November 1918, at Rogart, Scotland, Established Church of Scotland.

Found guilty, of being absent without leave, 2359, 1 December, to 1600, 3 December 1918: admonished, and forfeited 2 days' pay.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Karmala', 2 January 1919; disembarked Melbourne, 15 February 1919, for onward travel to Brisbane; discharged, Brisbane, 11 April 1919.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

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