Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Thomas was the son of Charles Dimber RAY & Fanny MALLINSON and was born in 1881 in Manchester, England.
He was baptised on the 6th of February 1881 in St Marks, West Gorton, Lancashire, England.

His parents were married on the 18th of June 1877 in Longsight Wesleyan Chapel, Chorlton, Lancashire, England.

His father was the son of Walter Thomas RAY & Mary WILSON and was born in 1854 in Brooklyn, USA.
His mother was the daughter of James MALLINSON and was born in 1853 in Mold Green, Yorkshire, England.

Thomas was the third child born into the family of 8 children.

His father was a railway fireman and they lived at 44 Prescott Street, Gorton.

His father immigrated to South Australia on board the John Elder on the 29th of September 1885 to find employment and a home for the family.

When Thomas was 6 years old he arrived in Melbourne with his mother and siblings on board the Port Jackson on the 13th of June 1887.
They then joined his father at Brompton, South Australia and his father had gained employment as an engine driver.

The following year they moved to Anna Creek and when Warrina was surveyed in 1890 as a railway station they moved there.
Warrina was located on the Marree to Alice Springs line, 97 kilometres north north west of William Creek and 633 miles north of Adelaide.
His twin siblings were still born here.

Two years later they moved back to Adelaide and when Thomas was 11 years old his mother died on the 14th of August 1892 and they buried her in the Hindmarsh Cemetery; Section Eastern Q3.

It is quite probable that Thomas was home schooled as there were no schools at Anna Creek or Warrina, just aboriginal camps.

In 1914 Thomas was employed as a labourer.

His brother Ernest enlisted into the AIF on the 18th of July 1915 (2475).
He embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT Ballarat on the 14th of September 1915 and served with the 27th Battalion.

At the age of 34, Thomas enlisted into the AIF on the 4th of December 1915 in Adelaide and was allotted the service number 2921 and posted B Company, 2nd Depot Battalion in Mitcham Camp.

On the 16th of December he was transferred to the 1st Depot Battalion for 4 weeks and then on the 16th of January 1916 he was transferred to the 27th Battalion, 10th Reinforcements.

Thomas remained in training for the next 9 months, possibly because of his age, and was transferred to the 27th Battalion, 17th Reinforcements, on the 19th of October.
On the 1st of December he was transferred to the 43rd Battalion, 6th Reinforcements and embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A35 Berrima on the 16th of December 1916.

He continued training in England and then served in France.
The conditions in France were harsh for Thomas and he suffered from Bronchial Pneumonia and Influenza before he was recommended for return to Australia.

Thomas embarked from England on board HT Suevic on the 1st of April 1918, disembarked in Melbourne on the 7th of June and entrained to Adelaide.

He was discharged, medically unfit, from the AIF on the 23rd of August 1918.

The next 10 years of Thomas’s life is not known, however we do know that he returned to being a labourer.

On the 22nd of August 1928 he was admitted into the Adelaide Hospital for 4 weeks and he gave his address as the Returned Soldiers Club in the City.

On the 2nd of July 1929 he was admitted into the Adelaide Hospital and gave his address as the Consumption Home.

Thomas remained in the hospital for the next 4 weeks and died in the hospital on the 3rd of August 1929.
He was buried 2 days later in the Hindmarsh Cemetery; Section Eastern Q3, with his mother.

Military

At the age of 34, Thomas enlisted into the AIF on the 4th of December 1915 in Adelaide and was allotted the service number 2921 and posted B Company, 2nd Depot Battalion in Mitcham Camp.
He listed his sister, Mrs Ada BARNETT of Gypsum Street, Railway Town, Broken Hill, as his next of kin.

On the 16th of December he was transferred to the 1st Depot Battalion for 4 weeks and then on the 16th of January 1916 he was transferred to the 27th Battalion, 10th Reinforcements.

Thomas remained in training for the next 9 months, possibly because of his age, and was transferred to the 27th Battalion, 17th Reinforcements, on the 19th of October.
On the 1st of December he was transferred to the 43rd Battalion, 6th Reinforcements and embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A35 Berrima on the 16th of December 1916.

Two days into the voyage he was admitted into the ships hospital for 10 days suffering from a Venereal Disease.
Thomas disembarked in Devonport on the 16th of February 1917 and marched into the 2nd Training Battalion in Durrington.

He suffered from Bronchial Pneumonia on the 23rd of March and was admitted, severely ill, into the Fargo Military Hospital, on the Salisbury Plains.
Thomas spent 3 weeks in hospital before he was well enough to be discharged to the 11th Training Battalion in Larkhill, on the 6th of April.

On the 5th of May Thomas was AWOL from Tattoo for 1 day and awarded 2 days Field Punishment No.2 and forfeited 5 days pay.
Thomas proceeded to France on the 30th of July and reported to the 3rd ADBD Australian Division Base Depot in Rouelles.
He marched out to the 43rd Battalion on the 15th of August and joined the Battalion 2 days later at Jesus Farm, near Steenwerck, in training.

Training consisted of physical drill, bayonet fighting, ceremonial, assault and consolidation.
They also provided daily working parties at De Seule and Messines for the construction of ammunition dumps and for the consolidation of the corps line of defence.
On account of the distance to this line the parties, who worked largely by night, were conveyed to and from Souvenir Dump, near Wulverghem, by motor lorries.

Assisted by a favourable moon, hostile bombing planes proved very active over the Steenwerck area, but fortunately did not execute any damage to the camp.
On the 22nd of August they left Jesus Farm and after entraining at Steenwerck Station they arrived at Wizernes and marched 8 miles to their quarters at Avroult.

Here further training commenced with platoon close order drill and specialist work, such as signalling, scouting, Lewis gunnery and bombing.
In addition, bayonet fighting and physical exercises also formed an important feature in the hours of parade, while route marches were held at least once a week.

In the early days of September it was learnt that the 3rd Australian Division was to be engaged in the offensive to be launched at Ypres, and consequently training for the class of warfare anticipated was commenced, including trench-to-trench attacks, general advances and open warfare.

As a relaxation from the general routine, a trip to the coast was arranged throughout the Division and Thomas and his Battalion spent 3 days at the beach where they camped in tents amongst the sand hills.

On the 25th the journey to the forward zone was commenced, Blaringhem being reached that afternoon and quarters allotted in an old prisoners of war compound, close to Neuf Fossse Canal, in which permission to swim was obtained.

After one night here they moved to the Eecke Steenvoorde area and it was here on the 26th of September that Thomas suffered from Influenza and was admitted into the 11th Australian Field Ambulance and transferred to the 15th Casualty Clearing Station at Ebblinghem.
He was transferred to the 7th Canadian General Hospital in Etaples on the 1st of October and 5 days later he was discharged to the 6th Convalescent Depot.
Two days later Thomas was discharges to the 3rd ADBD (Australian Division Base Depot) in Rouelles and then marched out to his Battalion on the 13th.

Ten days later he rejoined his Battalion at Arvoult in rest and training.
Training consisted mostly of platoon training and short route marches, combined with physical drill and bayonet fighting and as much recreation as possible was encouraged by means of inter-company competitions and inter-battalion football matches.

On November 12th they began their return to the forward area by a 15 mile route march and their billets for the first night were at Wittes.
The following day they marched 21 miles to Doulieu via Boeseghem, Haver- skerque, and Neuf Berquin.
Here they rested for a day, proceeded to De Seule on the 15th, where Kent Camp was occupied for the night and Canteen Corner being taken over next morning.

These new quarters consisted of a well-laid-out set of hutments, which, in addition to living quarters, contained also quartermaster's store, orderly room, recreation hut, officers and sergeants' messes, with transport stables adjoining.
As many of the huts were in need of repairs and an extensive works policy was adopted to execute these and undertake many improvements throughout the lines. One of the most important was the establishment of duckboard tracks to the various huts, as with the winter setting in the ground was becoming wet and slippery.

While here the Battalion’s role was, as part of the 11th Brigade, which was reserve to the 9th and 10th Brigades, then holding the Le Touquet Sector from the River Lys to the River Douve.

Outdoor training and parades continued when weather permitted, while sport and recreation were more extensively indulged in.

On the 26th of November, the anniversary of the Brigade's arrival in France, a sports meeting was held near the camp and in the evening the Unit Pierrot Troupe provided entertainment in the Recreation Hut.
Towards the end of the month cross-country runs were introduced and recreation of some form became compulsory and was conducted as a parade. The Battalion Pierrots gave frequent concerts, which, together with an officer’s party and visiting troupes, assisted in providing entertainments for the long evenings.

On the 5th of December they were detailed to bury cables from Nieppe to Hill 63 for 5 days.
On the 9th of December Thomas suffered from Bronchitis again and was admitted into the 10th Australian Field Ambulance.
Four days later he was transferred to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station near Outtersteene.

Thomas spent Christmas 1917 here before being transferred to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station at Trois Arbres, near Steenwerck, on the 5th of January 1918.
Two days later he was transferred by No.20 Ambulance Train to the 3rd Canadian General Hospital in Boulogne where he spent a further 3 weeks before being discharged to the 7th Convalescent Depot on the 24th of January.
Thomas spent another week here and was discharged to the 3rd ADBD in Rouelles and medically classified B3 (only suitable for sedentary work) due to Chronic Bronchitis.

On the 20th of February Thomas proceeded to England and marched into No.2 Command Depot in Weymouth, awaiting return to Australia.

Thomas embarked from England on board HT Suevic on the 1st of April 1918, disembarked in Melbourne on the 7th of June and entrained to Adelaide.

Thomas was discharged, medically unfit, from the AIF on the 23rd of August 1918.

He was awarded the British War & Victory Medals.