Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Constable Thomas Rawlinson† 5772

Police Station, Camperdown, Victoria

Joining the Victoria Police Force on 12 July 1912, 22 years of age, farm labourer Thomas Rawlinson saw duty at Russell Street, from 4 January 1913 from whence he was sent on four months temporary duty at Tongala, followed by duty of a similar nature at Mansfield.

Transferring, on 2 September 1914, to Camperdown police station, to replace, perhaps, the AIF enlisted Constable Herbert Leslie Newland 5833, Tom Rawlinson renewed acquaintances with former soldier, Constable Henry Clarke Fenton 5048, an 8 May 1915 AIF enlistment.

Miss Rose Gellie of Scott Street, Camperdown, to whom Tom Rawlinson directed a daily payment of 4/- from his AIF pay, perhaps ‘caught his eye’ however, for reasons best known to himself, on 23 September 1915, aged 26 years and 4 months, Bacchus Marsh, Victoria born, 180.3 cm, 78 kg, Constable Thomas Rawlinson signed AIF Attestation Papers at Camperdown. Re-examined in Melbourne, Tom Rawlinson was found suitable for active service requiring his transferring to Russell Street police headquarters pending his resignation or being placed on extended leave from the Victoria Police Force.

Assigned to 4th Field Artillery Brigade 10th Battery, Gunner Tom Rawlinson, perhaps briefly, renewed acquaintances with Constable Thomas Clinton Gunn 5506, formerly of Seymour police station.

Epidemic cerebro spinal meningitis, otherwise known as spotted fever, a disease that inflamed the membranes of the brain and spinal cord, causing attacks of intense pain in the head and limbs simultaneously with severe vomiting, or seized with convulsions, engulfed Victoria at the time.

Most prevalent in northern regions and the temperate zone, numbers of men congregated and herded together in cold, wet weather, gave the meningitis germs full scope for their activity. Feverish colds, influenza, as well as pneumonia, were sometimes milestones on the road to meningitis.

The presence of the disease was determinable by the appearance of a great pain on pressure of the spinal column and along the nerve channels. Later, the muscles of the back becoming stiff, possibly arching the body, headaches intensified, with the patient becoming very irritable and restless, followed by the last stages of delirium stupor and unconsciousness.

Diagnosed with epidemic cerebro spinal meningitis, together with toxaemia, Gunner Tom Rawlinson was transferred to Base Hospital on 12 November 1915. Transferring further to the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria on 14 November 1915, Thomas Rawlinson succumbed to the disease on 17 November 1915 prior to embarkation of his unit from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A18 Wiltshire the day following.[1]

Deep regret was expressed throughout the Bacchus Marsh district upon the death of Gunner Thomas Rawlinson, eldest son of Mr. Thomas Rawlinson, of Coimadai. Remembered as an intelligent lad at school, Tom Rawlinson developed into a fine specimen of manhood to rest in eternal peace in the Maddingley Cemetery, Bacchus Marsh, Victoria.

Thomas Rawlinson

On the 17 November 1915, at the Alfred Hospital, Thomas, the eldest son of Thomas and the late Hester Rawlinson, of Coimadai, beloved brother of Emily, Mary, Esther, Annie, Robert and Benjamin, late of Camperdown force and the A.I.E.F., aged 26 years.[2]

[1] https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/241683395 25 August 1915
[2] https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/154917884 19 November 1915