WARNECKE, Thomas McKnight
| Service Number: | 34 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Pioneer Battalion |
| Born: | Birkenhead, England, 4 August 1870 |
| Home Town: | Brunswick, Moreland, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Tentmaker |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 2 May 1917, aged 46 years |
| Cemetery: |
Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, City of Brunswick Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 34, 3rd Pioneer Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Jun 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 34, 3rd Pioneer Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Wandilla embarkation_ship_number: A62 public_note: '' | |
| 6 Jun 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 34, 3rd Pioneer Battalion, HMAT Wandilla, Melbourne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Sons: 1652 Pte Clarence WARNECKE, 3rd Pioneer Bn, died of disease, 18 January 1919;
2437 Pte Robert Harry WARNECKE, 8th Bn, returned to Australia, 16 November 1918;
4220 Pte Thomas William WARNECKE, 24th Bn, returned to Australia, 31 October 1917.
34 Private Thomas McKnight Warnecke, 3rd Australian Pioneers, AIF, was killed in action 2 May 1917. Thomas had been born near Liverpool, in England, and he enlisted in February 1916 and gave his age as 42, an understatement by a few years as he was 46 years of age when he died. His wife Sarah Warnecke was living in Brunswick, Victoria, but they must have lived in Perth, Western Australia as some of their children were born there. Sarah remarked upon his roll of honour circular that “His grandfather served in British forces in the Battle of Waterloo and his father served in the Crimea War. He enlisted with three sons and all served at the front. His son Clarence was with him at his death”
Thomas arrived in France in November, 1916 in the same unit with his son Clarence, and was killed in action when a shell burst near his billet just near Armentieres, on the 2 May 1917. His son Clarence was admitted to the hospital the very day, 3 May 1917, and was reported to be present when his father died. Thomas is buried in the Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery Armentieres, France. The inscription on his headstone says “He layed down his life for King and Country, deeply mourned.”
As well as the three sons that enlisted, he had seven other younger children who all received pensions. According to information from his family, Thomas McKnight Warnecke was the father of 12 children. His wife Sarah Warnecke remained in Brunswick where she died during March 1944.
Biography contributed
He was born in Birkenhead, England on 4th August, 1870 as Thomas Langley WARNECKE
His parents were Robert WARNECKE & Margaret McKNIGHT
He married Sarah Elizabeth PRYOR in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia in 1890
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