FORBES, Thomas Charters
| Service Number: | 6598 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Gunner |
| Last Unit: | 4th Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Richmond, City of Yarra, Victoria, Australia, 1895 |
| Home Town: | Albert Park, Port Phillip, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Albert Park State School, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 2 October 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Reninghelst New Military Cemetery, Belgium Plot: IV. C. 1. |
| Memorials: | Albert Park Yacht & Angling WW1 Club Honour Roll, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, South Melbourne Great War Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Nov 1915: | Involvement Driver, 6598, 4th Field Artillery Brigade, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Wiltshire embarkation_ship_number: A18 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Nov 1915: | Embarked Driver, 6598, 4th Field Artillery Brigade, HMAT Wiltshire, Melbourne | |
| 2 Oct 1917: | Involvement Gunner, 6598, 4th Field Artillery Brigade, Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 6598 awm_unit: 4th Australian Field Artillery Brigade awm_rank: Gunner awm_died_date: 1917-10-02 |
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“He was the second eldest of seven children and was born in Richmond [in Melbourne] in 1896. He’d joined the initial rush of men seeking to volunteer, but was rejected because of the state of his teeth. Then, after Australia suffered heavy losses during the first weeks on Gallipoli, he made a second attempt to enlist, and he was accepted on 7 July 1915.”
In May 1916, the 4th Field Artillery Brigade was involved in constant heavy action against German positions, about 80 kilometres south of Sausage Valley, near the ruined village of Pozières. Thomas went on to serve during the bitter fighting at Bullecourt, Messines Ridge, Menin Road and Polygon Wood. He was killed in Belgium on 2 October 1917.
Today, his remains lie at Reninghelst New Military Cemetery in Belgium, beneath the inscription chosen by his family: “For him hath dawned the perfect day.”
His story was told recently at a Last Post Ceremony at the Memorial. Hyles was the master of ceremonies. Australian Veterans Assistance League (www.facebook.com)
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