DAVIES, Thomas Montague
| Service Number: | 2896 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
| Born: | Casterton, Victoria, Australia, 1895 |
| Home Town: | Benjaberring , Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 26 April 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Crouy British Cemetery, Crouy-sur-Somme |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Wyalkatchem War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 9 Nov 1916: | Involvement Private, 2896, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Argyllshire embarkation_ship_number: A8 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 1916: | Embarked Private, 2896, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1), HMAT Argyllshire, Fremantle | |
| 26 Apr 1918: | Involvement Sergeant, 2896, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2896 awm_unit: 51 Battalion awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1918-04-26 |
Tom's family remembers his ultimate sacrifice
Tom is one of eight children born to John Davies (1852-1910) and Mary Jane Davies (1854-1902), born Adellaide.
Tom as he was known to his family, also Thomas Montague "Mont" Davies (1895-1918), moved with his father from Casterton to Benjaberring, Western Australia in 1906.
There he enlisted in the 1st AIF ten years later in 1916. Tom died of wounds as Sgt 2896, 51st Battalion, AIF. He is buried at Crouy British Cemetery, Somme, France. Hence why he is not named on Casterton War Memorial, but is remembered at Benjaberring, Western Australia.
Tom is pictured amongst the large group portrait of the NCOs of the 51st Battalion. Tom is marked as the 9th soldier front row from left to right seating with legs crossed as marked (16th soldier counting from the front row right to left) - Sgt T. M. Davies; 2955, Australian War Memorial, Image EO745. Tom died of wounds France, 26 April 1918).
His father John Davies (1852-1910) is the son of Thomas Davies former farmers of Kalkee, Victoria, later miller of Casterton 1893-1906. Father Thomas Davies, is a cousin of Holmes Brothers of Casterton.
John Davies (1852-1910) was born in Birmingham, England, where his parents were also born and immigrated to the Colony of Victoria/Port Phillip Distraict in 1851. Tom's paternal grandmother is Mary Davies, nee Tyers.
Tom's mother Mary Jane Davies (1854-1902), nee Guest, is the daughter of Thomas Guest (1808-1875) who migrated from Tipperay, Ireland to Adealide in 1852. Mary's parents Tom and Jane Guest, nee McGarvey and her three eldder brother also born in Tipperary all survived the March 1852 Marion ship wreck near Port Adelaide.
It was Mary however who was born in Adelaide in 1854 who trekked to Western Victoria with her father, and three young adult brothers in 1869/1870, taking up the offer of Victorian Land Act 1869 grants located within the Wimmera Plains area, awarded to her brothers William, Thomas and James Guest (Tom's father, John Davies also offered land around the same time in Casterton).
Offspring of Tom's maternal uncles Guest, still hold the same lands at Pimpinio and also at Wonwondah near Horsham (Refer also: Casterton and District Historical Society, Casterton & District Settlers, Families & Pioneers, Last Updated, June 18th 2024).
Alaway remembered, RIP Tom, Davies & Guest Family
Submitted 17 July 2024 by John GUEST
Click images to start slideshow.