GRIFFITHS, Thomas Joseph
| Service Numbers: | 1780, V17561 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 9 February 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | General Hospitals - WW2 |
| Born: | Benella, Victoria, 1 January 1880 |
| Home Town: | Benalla, Benalla, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | 1946, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 9 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1780, 60th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 May 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1780, 60th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '20' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Lincoln embarkation_ship_number: A17 public_note: '' | |
| 4 May 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1780, 60th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Port Lincoln, Melbourne | |
| 2 Dec 1916: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 1780, 60th Infantry Battalion |
World War 2 Service
| 16 Jul 1941: | Enlisted Private, V17561, Royal Park, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Mar 1943: | Discharged Private, V17561, General Hospitals - WW2 |
My Great Grandfather T.J.Griffiths
He fathered 15 Children, 2 of whom served in WW2.
One of his daughters Mena Griffiths was murdered by serial killer Arnold Karl Sodeman when she was 12 yrs of age. I know this had a profound affect on his and my Great Grandmothers lives as well all the siblings including my Grand Mother Muriel Griffiths.
He served in Egypt and France, Fromelles in the battle of the Somme where he was injured by shelling. He suffered severe burns and damaged lungs in July 1916. It was the single greatest loss of Australian lives in a battle.
After his Army discharge he acquired some land in Pakenham to farm, however ended up forfeiting the land as he was suffering affects from his War injuries that rendered him unable to manage the Farm.
Submitted 13 June 2017 by David Chilcott
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