THOMAS, Daniel Columbus
| Service Numbers: | 2807, 2807B |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 29 July 1915, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Adelaide, South Australia, 24 July 1884 |
| Home Town: | Eastwood, Burnside, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Sturt Street School |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 20 August 1916, aged 32 years |
| Cemetery: |
Serre Road Cemetery No.2 Beaumont Hamel, France Plot: XXVIII B 3 |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 29 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2807, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Oct 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2807, 27th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
| 27 Oct 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2807, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Adelaide | |
| 20 Aug 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2807B, 10th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières |
Daniel Columbus THOMAS
Enlisted in July, 1915, aged 31 years. He was married to William Alfred GULLY's sister (See entry for William Alfred Gully, KIA). At time of enlistment had 5 children. He disembarked for France in April, 1916, with 27 Battalion Reinforcements. On arrival was taken on strength with 10 Battalion. On 19 August, 1916, Daniel, with 10 Battalion, moved into the trenches to take part in the advance from Pozieres to Mouquet Farm. On the night of 20 August, all men of 10 Battalion on the front line were engaged in digging saps which was hampered by heavy shelling by the Germans. It was ascertained that the Germans were themselves working on digging new trenches, having withdrawn from Pozieres. Their position was bombarded at 7.30pm, which in turn, brought down an intense barrage by the Germans on the Australian front line. Daniel was killed during this shelling and possibly covered over by dirt from the shell bursts. He was later found by his mates, in the vicinity of the Pozieres cemetery towards Mouquet Farm. Daniel was exhumed then reburied in Serre Road 2 cemetery.
Submitted 29 August 2017 by Ian Gully
Biography contributed by Ian Gully
On enlistment, assigned to 6th Reinforcements 27th Battalion. On 28 February 1916 was taken on strength 10th Battalion.
"THE LATE PRIVATE D. C. THOMAS.
Mrs. B. Thomas, Main-street, Eastwood, has been informed that her husband, Private D. C. Thomas, was killed in action on August 20 in France. He enlisted about twelve months ago and left for the front at the end of last year. After serving some months in Egypt he went to France. He was 32 years of age and was employed for a number of years by Messrs. Max Swift & Co., and afterwards by Messrs. Davis, Browne, & Co., of Hindley-street. He was greatly esteemed for his manliness. A widow and five young children are left." - from the Adelaide Chronicle 14 Oct 1916 (nla.gov.au)
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