Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Tom was the youngest of nine children of William Thomas Otway (b1862 in Dale River, WA) and Susannah Ann Willey (b1872 in Spring Valley, Beverley, WA). William (a Farmer) and Susannah married in 1891 in Beverley, WA where they raised their family. Susannah died in 1906, a month after Tom's birth.

Tom worked as a Repairer on the Railways in Dandalup, Lake Biddy and Wilkie WA and in 1937 married Cora Minnie Woodall (b1911 in Yorkshire, England) in Perth WA. Cora was a Factory Worker when she immigrated with her parents and siblings in 1929, arriving in Fremantle WA on board the Otranta. Tom and Cora settled in Maida Vale in Guildford WA where Tom worked as a Contractor. In August 1941 Tom was a Driving Mechanic in Kalgoorlie WA, and father of four children, when he enlisted in the Australian Army (Driver; Service No:WX15650). He served with 2/2 Field Workshop, 105 LAD, 134 Australian Brigade Workshops. He was in the Middle East (9 September 1941 - 18 February 1943) and the Alice Springs area with 2 MT Workshop in 1945. Tom was a Craftsman attached to Bulk Issue Petrol and Oil Depot when he was Discharged in October 1945.

Tom returned to Maida Vale, Guildford WA where he worked as a Labourer in 1949. By 1958 he and Cora had separated and Cora remarried in 1969. Tom died in Kalgoorlie WA in 1980.