LAING, Thomas
| Service Number: | 6607 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 11 March 1916, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Bondi, New South Wales, 8 June 1890 |
| Home Town: | Towamba, Bega Valley, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Rockton School & Towamba School |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Hermies, France, 9 April 1917, aged 26 years |
| Cemetery: |
Hermies Hill British Cemetery Plot 3, Row D, Grave 21, Hermies Hill British Cemetery, Hermies, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 11 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Sydney, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Oct 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 6607, 2nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 7 Oct 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 6607, 2nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Sydney |
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Thomas was one of 11 children born to Ruth (nee Atkins) and Allan Laing a farmer who had a freehold property at White Rock Creek in Genoa. His mother died in 1901 just hours after the birth of her 11th child.
Thomas and his brother Charles enlisted with 7 other locals on 11th March 1916 after they had received a celebratory function in the Towomba Hall organised by locals on 25th Feb 1916.
Thomas embarked on the HMAT A40 Ceramic on 7th Oct 1916 and like many others contracted mumps during the voyage. When he was fit enough he rejoined the 2nd Battalion.
On 11th March 1917 in Hermies,France while on a mission, Thomas was killed in action.
"It has fallen to my lot to convey to you, the sympathy of the officers and men of the 2nd Bn, in your recent loss. Your brother 6607 T Laing was liked and respected by one & all. During the attack and capture of Hermies on Easter Monday, your brother met his fate. You have this satisfaction, he fell fighting hard. Right in the front rank of the charge. As his platoon Officer, I miss him, he was a soldier all through and was popular with all. He is buried on the field of victory." - Lieut. R. Rannard 2nd Btn.
"I saw him lying dead at Hermies on April 9th, while we were attacking in 'No Mans Land'. He had been killed practically instantly by a machine gun bullet, in the stomach. We brought him in for burial the next morning, and I saw him buried in a brick yard called the Quarry." Private AL Hansord 2nd Btn
He was buried at Hermies Australian Cemetery and then reburied in 1920 at the Hermies Hill British Cemetery.
Thomas is remembered on Panel 33 of the Australian War Memorial Canberra, and on the Eden Cenotaph and Towamba War Memorial.
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