YAPP, Thomas
| Service Number: | 3259 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 August 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 25th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Ravenswood, Charters Towers, Queensland, 10 December 1890 |
| Home Town: | Taringa, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Queenton State School, Charters Towers |
| Occupation: | Railway Porter Queensland Railways |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Le Hamel, Departement de la Somme, France, 4 July 1918, aged 27 years |
| Cemetery: |
Crucifix Corner Cemetery Crucifix Corner Cemetery, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3259, 25th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Dec 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3259, 25th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Itonus embarkation_ship_number: A50 public_note: '' | |
| 23 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3259, 25th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , Wounded GSW Thigh evacuated England | |
| 29 Jul 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 3259, 25th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières | |
| 30 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3259, 25th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres | |
| 4 Oct 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3259, 25th Infantry Battalion, Broodseinde Ridge | |
| 4 Oct 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 3259, 25th Infantry Battalion, Broodseinde Ridge | |
| 4 Jul 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3259, 25th Infantry Battalion, Le Hamel - Blueprint for Victory, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3259 awm_unit: 25 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1918-07-04 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Steve Larkins
Thomas YAPP was born on 10th December, 1890 in Ravenswood, Charters Towers, Queensland
His parents were Thomas YAPP anad Selina PARRY
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Tom embarked for Marseilles with reinforcements for the newly raised Battalion from Alexandria in Egypt. After arriving in Marseilles they entrained for a long rail journey to northern France, taking in the scenery of a lush verdant countryside that struck many in stark contrast to their homeland, so often parched and dry in summer.
Thomas and his colleagues joined the 25th Battalion in an area known as "The Nursery" near Armentieres on 23 April 1916.
The Battalion redeployed south to the Somme in July and on the 23rd July the Battle for Pozieres began. The 2nd Division of which the 25th was part, joined the battle a few days later.
Thomas Yapp was wounded in action, on 29 July 1916 (gun shot wound or 'General Shrapnel Wound', leg), and admitted to 1st field Ambulance; transferred to 3rd Casualty Clearing Station, 30 July 1916.
He was then transfered to No 1 Canadian General Hospital, 30 July 1916 then to 26th General Hospital, 2 August 1916. On 2 August 1916 he was evacuated to England and admitted to East Leeds War Hospital, 3 August 1916 (wound: severe); transferred to 2nd Auxiliary Hospital, Southall, 10 November 1916. After rehabilitation and convalescence he was discharged to No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 18 November 1916. He was sent on leave and then marched in to No 4 Command Depot, Wareham, from furlough, 28 January 1917.
Thomas was back in the reinforcement chain and proceeded overseas to France, 4 July 1917 rejoining the Battalion in the field on 31 July 1917, just in time for the commencement of the great campaign of 1917 - Third Ypres.
Thomas negotiated the perils of the early battles at Menin Road and Polygon Wood. he was wounded in action (second occasion) on 4 October 1917 (gun shot wound, left thigh), in the great meeting engagement battle for Broodseinde Ridge and admitted to New Zealand Field Ambulance, and transferred to 55th Casualty Clearing Station; to 56th General Hospital, 5 October 1917 and then the unfortunately familiar transit to England, 7 October 1917 before being admitted to Colchester General Hospital on 9 October 1917 (wound: slight). Thomas was transferred to 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, 15 October 1917; discharged on furlough, 29 October 1917, to report to No 3 Command Depot, Hurdcott, 12 November 1917. He was Marched Out to Overseas Training Brigade, Longbridge Deverill, 16 February 1918.
Proceeded overseas to France, 7 March 1918; rejoined Bn, in the field, 12 March 1918.
The 25th Battalion was part of the first major engagement fought by General Monash's Australian Corps at Le Hamel on 4 July 1918, prototyping the new 'Combined Arms' tactics that the Australians perfected in the lead up to the culmination of the Western Front fighting.
Tragically, twice wounded already, Thomas Yapp's luck ran out at Le Hamel.
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