Maurice James THEOBALD

THEOBALD, Maurice James

Service Number: 4863
Enlisted: 27 January 1917, Adelaide, South Australia
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 43rd Infantry Battalion
Born: Nairne, South Australia, 21 January 1895
Home Town: Mallala, Mallala, South Australia
Schooling: Public Schools: Port Lincoln, Mt Torrens, Yongala, South Australia; Broken Hill, New South Wales
Occupation: Bank clerk
Died: Killed in Action, France, 27 August 1918, aged 23 years
Cemetery: Suzanne Military Cemetery No.3
Memorials: Adelaide National Australia Bank WW1 Honour Board, Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Broken Hill War Memorial, Mallala District of Grace WW1 Roll of Honor, Mallala War Memorial, Meadows War Memorial
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World War 1 Service

27 Jan 1917: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4863, Adelaide, South Australia
23 Jun 1917: Involvement Private, 4863, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: ''
23 Jun 1917: Embarked Private, 4863, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Borda, Adelaide
26 Aug 1918: Involvement Private, 4863, 43rd Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 4863 awm_unit: 43rd Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1918-08-26

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Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

Son of Thomas THEOBALD (Methodist Minister) and Maria nee BOTTROFF

Biography contributed

Private Maurice James Theobald (4863) was born on the 21st January 1895 in Nairne.

His mother was Maria, nee Bottroff and his father Thomas Theobald was a Methodist Minister. This no doubt explained why the family moved  to so many different locations. Younger siblings, Russell and Dulcie were born in Laura. George was born in Port Lincoln. Later they also lived at Meadows, Snowtown, Black Forest and Mallala.

They attended Yongala School from April, 1910. Maurice was discharged from school at the age of fifteen in August of the same year.

On the 27th January, 1917 he joined up at Mitcham. At this time, he was 22 years and one month old and employed as a bank clerk. He stood five feet eight and a quarter inches tall with fair hair and blue eyes.

He embarked from Adelaide on board the “Borda” in June, 1917 and arrived in Plymouth in August. After training, he was sent from Southampton to Le Havre to join the 43rd Battalion. He was admitted to a field hospital suffering from scabies twice in February of 1918.

In May he was deprived of two days’ pay for the crime of being absent from Tattoo. He was admitted to hospital again in June suffering from laryngitis. He was killed in action in France on 26th August, 1918. He was 23. He was buried in the field. He was later exhumed and buried in Suzanne French Military Cemetery, seven miles North West of Peronne.

His personal effects in one parcel containing a wallet, religious book, name plate, photos and letters were sent on board the “Barambah”.

He was awarded the British War Medal, Victory Medal and the 1914/15 Star.

A photograph of his grave was transmitted to his next of kin by the War Office.

Courtesy of Laura Parsons

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