JOYCE, Thomas William
| Service Number: | 4128 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 December 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 24th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Branxholme, Victoria, Australia, 1883 |
| Home Town: | Branxholme, Southern Grampians, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Shoesmith |
| Died: | Accidental (Injuries), France, 1 June 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension Plot VIII, Row D, Grave No. 30. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 15 Dec 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4128, 24th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Mar 1916: | Involvement Private, 4128, 24th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Wiltshire embarkation_ship_number: A18 public_note: '' | |
| 7 Mar 1916: | Embarked Private, 4128, 24th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Wiltshire, Melbourne | |
| 1 Jun 1917: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 4128, 24th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 4128 awm_unit: 24 Battalion awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1917-06-01 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Thomas William Joyce was the son of John Mark and Rosanna Joyce of Wallacedale, Victoria. His mother had passed away during 1909. Thomas was born in Branxholme, and that town was given as his place of association.
It was reported in the Hamilton newspaper that Lance-Corporal Joyce, was better known as "Billy," and was officially reported accidentally killed on 1 June 1917. He had spent most of his life in the district around Hamilton and was well and favourably known. He was also a prominent footballer, and played with the Wallacedale team when they were very successful during the pre-war years. Nearly all the members of this team reported for service.
Billy’s brother, 3786 Pte. Matthew John Joyce 46th Battalion AIF, had been killed in action at Bullecourt, five weeks before on 11 April 1917, aged 28.
On 3 May 1917, Thomas received a gunshot wound to his right arm while at Favreuil, France. He was able to return to the battalion on 29 May while they were at Warloy-Baillon. Two days later, between 11:00 am and noon Thomas was killed by the premature explosion of a shell from a Stokes Mortar he and several others were operating during a practice session held by the 24th Battalion. The Stokes Mortar shell had exploded as it left the barrel, killing several men and wounding others. It was not the first or last occasion that this type of accident had happened with this mortar, and was generally attributed to faulty ammunition.
Thomas gave a friend as next of kin but his father was eventually sent his medal entitlements.