CAIN, Thomas Francis
| Service Number: | 6472 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 July 1916, Melbourne, Vic. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 5th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Beaufort, Victoria, Australia, May 1898 |
| Home Town: | Shepparton, Greater Shepparton, Victoria |
| Schooling: | St Joseph's Convent Numurkah, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Railway Porter |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Menin Road, Belgium, 20 September 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Birr Cross Roads Cemetery Plot I, Row E, Grave 27 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Mooroopna Shepparton News Calendar & Pictorial Honour Roll of Fallen Heroes, Shepparton & District War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 26 Jul 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6472, 5th Infantry Battalion, Melbourne, Vic. | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Oct 1916: | Involvement Private, 6472, 5th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Nestor embarkation_ship_number: A71 public_note: '' | |
| 2 Oct 1916: | Embarked Private, 6472, 5th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Nestor, Melbourne |
Help us honour Thomas Francis Cain's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Julianne Ryan
Born May 1898 in Beaufort, Victoria
Father Thomas Richard CAIN and Mother Alice Mary CAIN,
Thomas lived with his parents at 26 Harold Street, Shepparton, Victoria on enlisting.
Previous service:
3 years Senior Cadets - still serving on enlisting
Next of kin in service:
Mother stated Thomas had a 'brother' - who died in camp (did not provide name)
Described on enlisting as 18 years 2 months of age; single; 5' 10.5" tall; 140 lbs;
fair complexion; hazel eyes; fair hair; Roman Catholic
12/07/1916 enlisted in Melbourne, VIC
17/08/1916 appointed to 21st reinforcements, 5th Infantry Battalion, Broadmeadows Camp
02/10/1916 embarked from Port of Melbourne, VIC onboard HMAT Nestor A71
as a Private with 5th Infantry Battalion, 21st reinforcements
16/11/1916 disembarked into Plymouth, England
21/11/1916 marched out to Fovant, No.3 Com Depot
12/12/1916 marched in to 2nd Training Battalion, Durington, England
12/01/1917 sick to hospital, England
02/02/1917 marched in to 2nd Training Battalion
28/03/1917 proceeded overseas to France, ex Folkestone
29/03/1917 marched in to 1st Australian Base Depot, Etaples, France
02/04/1917 taken on strength of 5th Infantry Battalion, France
20/09/1917 killed in action on Menin Road, Belgium
Buried in: within the Birr Cross Roads area
24/10/1922 later noted found an 'isolated grave' - identified by his paybook #126057
he was exhumed and reburied in:
Birr Cross Roads Cemetery
Plot 1, Row E, Grave 27
His name is commemorated on Panel 43 at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT.
Medals: British War medal (48205), Victory medal (47632)
Memorial Plaque and Scroll (333275)
Submitted by Julianne T Ryan. 13/01/2017. Lest we forget.
Biography contributed by Faithe Jones
Private Thomas Francis Cain, second son of Mr and Mrs T. Cain, of Shepparton (formerly of Numurkah), was killed in action in France on September 20. The deceased soldier was only 19 years of age, and was a junior porter at Seymour station when he enlisted. He was born at Beaufort, and educated at St. Joseph's Convent, Numurkah, and was one of the Altar boys at the Church. He sailed from Australia on 2nd October, 1916. His eldest brother, Private Bert Cain, died on 1st July last from pneumonia contracted while in camp. Private Tom Cain was sent to the trenches before his 19th birthday owing to the fact (as he state in a letter to his parents) that there were not sufficient reinforcements to fill the vacancies. In a letter which arrived a few days before the news of his death, Private Tom Cain said he was in perfect health, and told his relatives not to worry about him. He also mentioned that he was with Tom Callander, Don Needham and other Numurkah boys.
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