THOMAS, Phillip Benjamin
| Service Number: | 1546 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 23 November 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 50th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Adelaide, South Australia, 25 April 1893 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Moulder |
| Died: | Barmera, SA, 4 February 1961, aged 67 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Barmera (Upper Murray) Garden of Memory Cemetery Section E Grave 1RC |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Torrens Rowing Club Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 23 Nov 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1546, 10th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Feb 1915: | Involvement Private, 1546, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Runic embarkation_ship_number: A54 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Feb 1915: | Embarked Private, 1546, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Runic, Melbourne | |
| 26 Sep 1919: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 50th Infantry Battalion |
Phillip Thomas
Name: Phillip Benjamin Thomas
Service Number: 1546
Place of Birth: Adelaide
Date of Birth: 25 April 1893
Place of Enlistment: Adelaide
Date of Enlistment: 23 November 1914
Age at Enlistment: 21 years 7 months
Marital status: Single
Next of Kin: Father – Henry Thomas
Occupation: Iron moulder
Religion: Church of England
Rank: Private
Biographical details:
Phillip was the son of Henry Thomas and Charlotte Susan Burchell. Phillip left Melbourne on board HMAT A54 Runic on 19 February 1915. He was admitted to hospital at Gallipoli on 9 May and again at Mudros on 25 September with dysentery, being able to rejoin his unit, the 50th Battalion on 19 October. They left Alexandria on 5 June 1916, disembarking at Marsailles on 12 June. Phillip sustained a gunshot wound to the head during action at Mouquet Farm on 16 August and was admitted to the 13th General Hospital at Boulogne 3 days later. He was sent to England and admitted to Edmonton War Hospital for further treatment to his scalp wound. Phillip was discharged for furlough on 16 October and upon completion of leave reported to Penham Downs Camp on 31 October. He returned to France on 24 January 1917 and was wounded on a second occasion on 2 April, sustaining a gunshot to the shoulder for which he was treated at the 4th Australian Field Ambulance. Further treatment was provided at the 13th General Hospital, Boulogne on 4 April and then at London General Hospital on 8 April. Phillip returned to Australia on board Pakeha on 28 August, disembarking in Adelaide on 20 October and was discharged as medically unfit on 3 December due to the shoulder wound(1).
Fruit Block Details:
Phillip occupied Block 293 on Jury Road in November 1918 The block in the Berri Irrigation area comprised 35 acres with 20 acres being irrigated and 15 acres dry. The house consisted of 2 rooms and a passage, made of stone, with a wood and iron roof. The house and 20’x15’ stables were constructed in 1919 and were valued at 450 pounds. The stock fence of 28 chains cost 14 pounds, with 48 chains of channelling costing 252 pounds. Vines on the block consisted of Doras 8.6, young oranges 3.0, sultanas 2.7, young currants 3.0 and young gordos1.95(2).
Other Anecdotal Information:
Phillip Benjamin Thomas married Amy Rosina Clark. They had two children, both born in Berri; Wesley James, born 3 October 1922, and Marjory Jean, born 23 February 1928(3).
References:
1. National Australian Archives:B2455;Thomas P B; Barcode 3002169.
2 & 3 Barmera Berri Council, Berri Barmera &
Districts Local History Collection
Submitted 5 October 2023 by christopher collins
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