Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Thomas MADDAMS

Military Medal

Recommnedation:-

‘East of Bullecourt on 11th May, 1917 L/Corp Maddams showed great courage and devotion to duty under fire. After an attack made by the Battalion on our left it was necessary for his Battalion to take over portion of the front line. L/Corp Maddam’s Lewis Gun team was moved over and posted in a position vacated by the other Battalion. The portion of trench taken over suffered very heavily from shell fire, and although all the crew had become casualties, L/Cpl Maddams kept his gun in action alone for 12 hours until relief could be sent him. The conduct was of the very highest order.’

Military Medal Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 189             Date: 8 November 1917

Thomas Maddams enlisted in January 1915, his elder brother George would enlist 6 months later. The Maddam’s family had been in the Bendigo district since 1855 when they came in search of gold. Like their forebears, both Thomas and George Maddams were miners, and the family appears to have an interest in a mine at Big Hill at the turn of the 20th century.

Thomas would embark in mid April 1915, which means he missed the landing on the Gallipoli peninsula that claimed so many AIF lives. He would be taken on strength into the 6th Battalion for the attack for disastrous battle at Lone Pine in August 8 1915.

A Kangaroo Flat neighbour would describe the conditions at Gallipoli in a letter home published in the Bendigonian newspaper on November 25, 1915.

‘Lance-Corporal F. A. McGregor, of Kangaroo Flat, in the course of a letter to his mother, says that life in the trenches is very rough. The men live on biscuits, bully beef, jam and tea. They receive bacon now and then, and sometimes rice. Their sleep is always broken, as they never have more than four hours off duty at one time when they are in the trenches. Up to the time of writing he had not felt it very cold at night, but it was summer time then. He had not had a wash since he had been there, and did not see the smallest chance of getting one, as they barely got enough water to drink, let alone wash with. He had had one close shave -a bullet just grazed his forehead and took a little skin off, but he had a feeling that he would pull through safely.Tom Maddams was in the same trench, and was quite well. The flies were a terrible pest to the men in the trenches, as they could not be kept off the food.’[1]

Thomas would get off Gallipoli in late November via Hospital ship and be admitted to hospital in Valetta, Malta. This was just three weeks before all the Australian and Allied troops are evacuated off the Dardanelles. 

Back in Egypt in early 1916, the AIF reorganised dividing experienced soldiers from established Battalions into new battalions with newly arrived recruits fresh from Australia. Thomas would find himself in the new 57th battalion, part of the 15th Brigade and also gain a promotion to Lance Corporal.

Fighting in France with the 57th, Thomas would be wounded in action at the end of March 1917, but appears to stay in the field. A month later on May 11 he would be recommended for the action listed above.

He would be awarded his medal in July 2nd, 1917 yet just four months later face Court Marshall in the field for being AWL for 6 days and is punished by forfeiting 60 days pay. 

He would be wounded twice more in 1918 with the most serious injury being a Gun Shot Wound to the knee. He would face more discipline issues but eventually survived the war and his 4 years in the military. He would arrive home to Australia on March 23, 1919. His brother George would also return just six days earlier than Thomas.

SERVICE DETAILS:

Regimental No. 1996                                                                

Place of birth: Kangaroo Flat Victoria

Religion: Church of England

Occupation: Miner

Address: Kangaroo Flat, Victoria

Marital status: Single

Age at enlistment: 21

Next of kin: Father, William George Maddams, Kangaroo Flat.

Enlistment date: 9 January 1915

Unit name: 6th Battalion & 57th Battalion in 1916

Embarked: HMAT A20 Hororata on 17 April 1915

Final Rank: Lance Corporal

Fate: Returned to Australia 23 March 1919

Medal Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 189

Date: 8 November 1917

Second Bullecourt - The action where Thomas Maddams would be recommended for a bravery award.

As part of the final throes of the British Army's Arras offensive, a renewed attempt was made to secure the fortified village of Bullecourt in the period 3-17 May. The Australian 2nd Division (5th and 6th Brigades) and the British 62nd Division attacked at 3.45 am on 3 May 1917. The Australians penetrated the German line but met determined opposition which frustrated the envelopment plan. Drawing more and more forces in, renewed efforts on 7 May succeeded in linking British and Australian forces, but inspired a series of ferocious and costly German counter-attacks over the next week and a half. Following the repulse of the counter-attack of 15 May, the Germans withdrew from the remnants of the village. Although the locality was of little or no strategic importance, the actions were nevertheless extremely costly: AIF casualties totalled 7,482 from three Australian Divisions.[2]

[1] Bendigonian newspaper, November 25, 1915  Page 2

[2] https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E84360