DOWELL, Thomas William
| Service Number: | 4781 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 11th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Perth, Western Australia, 1888 |
| Home Town: | Bedfordale, Armadale, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Bedfordale, Western Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 5 September 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension, Warloy-Baillon, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Armadale Bedfordale Roll of Honour, Armadale Roll of Honor, Armadale War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Apr 1916: | Involvement Private, 4781, 11th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Apr 1916: | Embarked Private, 4781, 11th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ulysses, Fremantle |
Help us honour Thomas William Dowell's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Thomas disembarked in Marseilles France on 14 June 1916 and he was then sent to the 4th Division's Base Depot.
On 21 August 1916 he was taken on strength along with 108 other reinforcements by the 51st Battalion at Bonneville north east of Amiens. The 51st Battalion was involved in their second attack on Mouquet Farm. This attack was eventually repulsed by the enemy, and the members of the 51st Battalion suffered extremely heavy casualties. On 4 September 1916 Thomas, while working as a stretcher bearer received shell wounds to his side. He died the next day. His mother later received a letter from the Sister who cared for him.
"Just a line to let you know your son came in most severely wounded, and his case was most serious from the first. He became much worse last night, and died early this morning. He did not suffer much. This will, I know, help to console you, and he had every care. He will be buried in the village, and his grave will be carefully kept." Yours Truly, Kathleen Holmes, Sister.
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