SA8409
PATERNOSTER, Louis Thomas
| Service Number: | 6892 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 May 1915, Keswick, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 15th Field Ambulance |
| Born: | Gawler, South Australia , 5 August 1889 |
| Home Town: | Goodwood, Unley, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Draughtsman |
| Died: | Natural causes, Glengowrie, South Australia , 10 March 1981, aged 91 years |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Gawler Council Gawler Men Who Answered the Call WW1 Roll of Honor, Gawler Loyal Gawler Lodge I.O.O.F. M.U. WW1 Honour Board, Gawler War Memorial, Kapunda District Honour Board, Unley St. Augustine's Church Roll of Honour, Unley Town Hall WW1 Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 28 May 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6892, Keswick, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Nov 1915: |
Involvement
AIF WW1, Private, 6892, 8th Field Ambulance, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' |
|
| 10 Nov 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 6892, 8th Field Ambulance, HMAT Ascanius, Melbourne | |
| 22 Sep 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 6892, 15th Field Ambulance, Polygon Wood | |
| 4 May 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 6892, 15th Field Ambulance |
Awarded the Military Medal
In Polygon Wood on evening of September 25-26 this man although warned by the R.M.O. of .............danger of carrying wounded through the enemy Barrage, led his squad throughout the night. His gallantry and total disregard of danger, with his devotion to duty, set an excellent example to his men and ........helped the evacuation of the wounded. As it was essential to avoid any blockage and ...............of casualties around the R.A.P.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 76
Date: 23 May 1918
Submitted 23 September 2014 by Steve Larkins
Biography contributed by Playford International College
Louis Thomas was born on the 5th of October 1889, his place of birth was Gawler South Australia. His address was 4 Alexander Avenue, Goodwood Park, South Australia. Louis Thomas’s religion was also the Church of England, before joining the war his occupation was a Mechanical Draughtsman and he was a single man. Thomas enlisted on the Twenty Eighth of May 1915 at Keswick South Australia his regimental number was 6892 and his rank of enlistment was Private. When Louis Thomas enlisted he put his Mother, Mrs Elizabeth E Paternoster as his next-of-kin. He was twenty five years old and seven months old when he enlisted. His height was about five feet and eight inches tall and he weighed about 63.5 kilograms.
Thomas embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on board HMAT A11 Ascanius on the 10th November 1915.
Thomas presented with a Military Medal for his actions at Polygon Wood on the evening of September 25-26. People of the R.M.O warned him of the danger of carrying the wounded soldiers to the enemy barrage. But nevertheless he disregarded it and led his squad through the night with total disregard to the danger and the things that could have happened . he did this act with devotion of duty and honour this amazing act set and amazing example to his squad and the wounded soldiers and helped a lot because it was essential for them to avoid and blockage of casualties around the R.A.P.
Thomas returned from the war and passed away on the 10th March 1981.
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