23395
CONLON, Thomas James
| Service Number: | 4271 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Yongala South Australia, 1 October 1892 |
| Home Town: | Peterborough (Formerly Petersburg), South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Peterborough South Australia, 18 October 1961, aged 69 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Peterborough Cemetery, SA Catholic 3, Plot 1585 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Nov 1916: | Involvement Private, 4271, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Nov 1916: | Embarked Private, 4271, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Adelaide | |
| Date unknown: | Honoured Military Medal |
Help us honour Thomas James Conlon's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Netta Blatchford
Thomas James CONLON was born in Yongala South Australia on 01.10.1892 to Thomas James CONLON (1854 – 1924) and Jane Agnes BUTLER (1957 - 1933).
He married Wilma OSOL on 9th February 1931. No information can be found about Wilma, but there is a story. She was from Riva Latvia and in 1928 she answered a ‘Person Wanted in Australia’ advertisement in her local paper in Latvia. She had to find a person who spoke English to translate. She sent her photo and story to the paper in answer to this advertisement upon which quite a few young men from South Australia offered her “their heart, hand and a home”. Thomas James CONLON was one of these men, and it was he that she chose and after a courtship of 3 years Wilma arrived in Adelaide on The Orontes on 7th February 1931 and they were married on 9th February 1931 at the Flinders St Lutheran Church. The marriage was conducted in 2 different languages as neither of them could speak the others language. All correspondence and meetings were always accompanied by an interpreter. There is no record of any children to this marriage.
Thomas James CONLON joined the AIF on 26.09.1916 at Adelaide South Australia. He was assigned to 2nd Depot Battalion AIF and embarked Adelaide on HMAT “Afric” on 07.11.1916 arriving at Plymouth on 09.01.1917.
He was taken on Service at 32nd Battalion from 11th to 8th Battalion and then to France 12.04.1917.
He was awarded the Military Medal for bravery. His records state “Is congratulated for courage and devotion to duty acting as a stretcher bearer in front line during period 14 to 27.06.1918. 1st Anzac Routine Order No 8 France 31.10.1917.
He was granted leave for 3 months to go to County Kilkenny, Ireland, as a Farmer.
Returned to Australia via HMAT “Arjana” on 09.10.1919.
He was discharged from AIF on 27.11.1919.
Thomas James CONLON died on 14.10.1961 and is buried at the Peterborough Cemetery in Peterborough South Australia.
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