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War Memorial
Australia

Thomas Glen - 3803 30th Battalion, 9th Reinforcements
The Glen Family, Thomas 45 (Farmer), Isabella 45 (Wife), Allan 22 (butcher), Lily 18 (teacher), George 14 (Labourer), Thomas 18 (Butcher), Mona 8 (Child), immigrated to Queensland from Scotland in 1910. They travelled on the Opher arriving in Brisbane on 19 May 1910.
The Qld electoral rolls show Thomas Glen Snr and Jnr living at Wooroolin, Farmers from 1912 to 1914 but Isabella and 2 eldest children Alan & Helen were living at West Booie. Unsure where young George & Mona were at that time but the 1919 electoral roll shows George at Wooroolin with his parents.
The Wooroolin farm was named West Brae and was Por 40 on what is now known as Woods Rd and where I remember Les Freeman and his family living.
WW1 commenced in Jul 1914 and this is about the time the Glen family or at least some of them lived near Sydney. I am thinking it was to give Thomas Jnr the opportunity to further his life as a Painter. There was an article in the newspaper during their time at Wooroolin about his skills as an artist.
Both Thomas Snr & Isabella were in Sydney 1919 when they wrote a letter to the Army records office advising that they were moving back to Wooroolin and had been unable to advise their son Thomas as he was still overseas.
Thomas Snr & Isabella remained at Wooroolin until about 1930 when they moved to the Coogee area of Sydney to be near their sons George & Thomas Jnr.
Thomas Glen Jnr, aged 22, enlisted in the Australian Infantry Forces on 22 Apr 1916 at Sydney giving his mother as NOK living at Erskinville, Belmore Road, Coogee, NSW. He stood 5 feet 9 ½ ins in his socks and had a sallow complexion with black hair and hazel eyes. His distinguishing feature was an old fracture on left elbow.
He embarked with his unit from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A68 Anchises on 24 August 1916.
In Jan 1917 he was assigned to the 30th Battalion, 9th Reinforcements.
In early 1917, the German Army withdrew to the Hindenburg Line. During the general advance that followed, the 30th Battalion had the honour of occupying Bapaume, one of the original objectives for the Somme Offensive of 1916. The 30th missed much of the heavy fighting of 1917, being employed in flank protection and reserve roles at the second battle of Bullecourt and the battle of Polygon Wood.
Thomas suffered damage to his ear Drums during 1919 as was hospitalised at Royal Herbert Hospital, Woolwich before being returned to Australia and discharged on 5 Apr 1919.
His brother Allan also served during WW1 - I wonder if they ever met up whilst overseas!
Thomas parents wrote to the Army Records office during 1919 as they were returning to Wooroolin and had not been able to advise him. There is no record of him living at Wooroolin after the war and the first record found for his is in 1930 living at Coogee with his parents and brother George, occupation Inventor. During the 1930’s there are at least 2 articles about his inventions. In May 1934 he invented the “Real Scotch Mouse Trap” and in Aug of same year the “Sonny Swim Suit”.
Thomas, aged 47, married Alice Church in 1944 and they had 4 children before his death in 1959. The electoral rolls for 1958 show that he an Engineer. What an interesting Man.

Lest We Forget