Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

877 C.S.M. Thomas Eccles D.C.M. M.M.

Thomas was a country boy, a labourer on his father’s large property near the country town of Yass in N.S.W. In May 1915 Thomas turned 21, he was 5’5” too short to enlist in the Army. Just a month later the height was lowered to 5’2”. On the 17 June 1915 Thomas enlisted in the Army at Liverpool, N.S.W.
Thomas arrived at Liverpool on the 22 July 1915. The 30th Battalion began training under the command of Lt Col J.W. Clark on the 1 August 1915. Their daily routine included; rising at 6.00 a.m., breakfast at 8.00 a.m., training until lunch and then until tea at 4.45 p.m. Lights out at 10.15 p.m. In addition to the training where they were taught to march they had mess and guard duties. They had musketry training which they were required to pass before continuing their training. On the 3 September 1915, the 30th Battalion moved to the R.A.S. showgrounds at Moore Park to finish their training before leaving Australia . On the 5 November 1915, 30 officers and 971 OR’s embarked on the “H.M.A.T. Beltana” for training in Egypt.
The ship arrived at Suez early December; from Suez, they travelled by train to Heliopolis where they received their rifles, then continued by train to Moascar where they camped that night, next morning they marched to Ferry Post. March was spent digging trenches. On the 22 March H.R.H. The Prince of Wales inspected the 30th Battalion.
On 1 April 1916 Thomas was promoted to Lance Corporal.
During June 1916, the 30th Battalion left Alexandria on the ship “H.M.A.T. Hororata” on a one week journey to Marseilles in France. A month later the 30th Battalion was engaged in their first major battle at Fromelles. Their task was to provide carrying parties with supplies and ammunition but they were soon drawn into the fierce fighting. During this battle, Thomas was wounded in action, his injury was a shrapnel wound to the right foot and a severe wound to his right thigh.
Quote from a letter from Thomas:
“On 19 July 1916, I was in a big battle. I was wounded and then went straight to England”
There were 3 officers and 51 OR’s (ordinary rank) killed, 5 officers and 224 OR’s wounded and 68 OR’s missing that day. Three days later Thomas, and the other wounded soldiers, embarked on the hospital ship “H.S. St George” for the journey to England where he was admitted to the 4th General Hospital at Dunmark Hill. He was hospitalised for 5 months. The battle continued until the end of the month with 16 soldiers killed and more injured. After this battle the 30th Battalion didn’t partake in any other major offensive for the remainder of the year.
Thomas was discharged from hospital mid-December and went on repatriation leave for 2 weeks. He then contracted scabies and was in and out of hospital for the next two months; he marched out of the Infantry Draft Depot at Perham Downs, England and proceeded to France on the “S.S. Victoria” where he rejoined his unit in March 1917. Thomas was promoted to Corporal.
On the 2 October 1917 Thomas was appointed Lance Sergeant to complete the establishment. Just over a week later he was wounded for the second time at 3 Ypres but remained on duty.
“At BROODSEINDE RIDGE east of YPRES on the night of 12th/13th inst, No. 877 Lance Sergeant ECCLES conducted a stretcher party back to the R.A.P. and was returning with the party through difficult swampy country when they were dispersed by a heavy artillery barrage which wounded three of the party. Lance Sergeant ECCLES gathered together and reorganised them, returning to the aid post with the wounded men. During the whole operation this N.C.O. was conspicuous for his courage and devotion to duty. He was slightly wounded on the left shoulder on the night of the 9th instant when his company were effecting their relief and although requested to go to the aid post refused and remained on duty, going out of the line with his company on the night of 13th idem [sic] I consider his fine example of devotion to duty worthy of special recognition”
This is Thomas’ recollection of the event:
“In October 1917, I was wounded in the left arm and shoulder. The officer said, ‘Sergeant do you think you could get two men, we have two men down’. In great pain, I went back to the German lines, twice, two trips and carried two men to safety. Saved two lives”
There was a special church parade in the Dominion camp on the 4 November 1917. General Birdwood presented 11 soldiers with their Military Medal ribbons. Thomas was one of these soldiers. Later in November was promoted Sergeant to complete establishment.
On 1 December 1917 Thomas’s service records show he was wounded in France for the 3rd occasion, although the 30th Battalion diaries don’t have an entry on this day. There isn’t a record of any battle at this time.
1 January 1918, New Year’s Day, was declared a general holiday. On the 1st and 2nd the battalion had sports days. Over the course of the month the battalion had many sports competitions. This is part of a report from the Lt. Col. 30 Battalion.
“The past month’s rest has been of great benefit to the Battalion, and at the present moment the spirits of the members have been seldom better………The six weeks stay at Desvres has been perhaps the most enjoyable rest enjoyed by this battalion since its arrival in France”
In early February Thomas went on leave to England for a month. No doubt this would part of his Battalion having a ‘rest’.
Thomas was in and out hospital again during June.
During July, the 30th Battalion had a relatively quiet time during the German Spring Offensive of 1918 as the 5th Division was in reserve most of the time. But by August they were engaged in heavy fighting when the 5th Division advanced down the Morcourt Valley. On the 1st October two Australian divisions and two American divisions attacked the Hindenburg Line.
Thomas was awarded his D.C.M. during this attack
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during the attack and capture of Joncourt on 1 October 1918. He kept his battalion commander well posted with the situation in front, continually moving along the entire company front and to flank units, co-operating in the attack under heavy shell and machine gun fire. He obtained information of first importance from these units and insured their prompt delivery to his company commander. His energy was untiring throughout the whole of the operations”
This is Thomas’ recollection of the battle.
“I was with the Americans to take the main German line, in the battle I was promoted Company Sergeant Major. On the 29th September 1918 in France I led the company about 250 men in the attack on the village “Joncourt”. I was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, D.C.M”
Thomas marched into Weymouth, England, in February 1919 where he was awarded his D.C.M.
The 30th Battalion was disbanded on the 21 March 1919.
On the 8 April 1919 Thomas embarked on the ship “Trans Os Montes” a former German passenger ship, arriving at Fremantle, W.A. on the 15 May 1919. It was pronounced ‘a clean ship’ and was permitted to resume its voyage to the eastern states.
Thomas was discharged as Company Sergeant Major, C.S.M. on the 27 July 1919.
On the 11 December 1919 Thomas received a letter advising of his entitlement of a gratuity of 20 pounds for his D.C.M. decoration.
On his return to civilian life he returned to farming. He married and had a family of 3 boys. He attended ANZAC day marches up until he died at the age of 94 on the 19 July 1988.