SKUSE, Thomas
| Service Number: | 3313 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 29 March 1916, at Adelaide |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Naracoorte, South Australia, August 1895 |
| Home Town: | Naracoorte, Naracoorte and Lucindale, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer & Blacksmith |
| Died: | 14 October 1925, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Naracoorte and District Town Hall Honour Board WW1 |
World War 1 Service
| 29 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3313, 32nd Infantry Battalion, at Adelaide | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Jun 1916: | Involvement Private, 3313, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Malakuta embarkation_ship_number: A57 public_note: '' | |
| 27 Jun 1916: | Embarked Private, 3313, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Malakuta, Adelaide | |
| 25 Nov 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, 3313, Taken on strength, 32nd Bn, in the field, 25 November 1916. | |
| 19 Mar 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 3313, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Gassed(Gas Bombed) on 19 March 1918, admitted to 15th Australian Field Ambulance. Transferred same day to the 5th Divisional Rest Station. To No. 2 Casualty Clearing Station, 21 March 191, then to Ambulance Train No 19, 23 March 1918, and admitted to 32nd Stationary Hospital, Wimereux. | |
| 13 Oct 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 3313, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Friedrichsruh', 8 July 1919 and disembarked to Adelaide, 29 August 1919; discharged (termination of period of enlistment), 13 October 1919. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School
Thomas Skuse an Australian WW1 Soldier. Born in Naracoorte South Australia, 336 kilometres south-east of South Australia, around August 1895. He had three known family members, mother of Thomas, Maria Lavina Skuse, father of Thomas, Frank Skuse and brother of Thomas, Nathaniel Skuse. Thomas was a religious person, a Roman Catholic. He had worked as a Farmer and Blacksmith before enlisting for the war. Thomas's brother Nathaniel Skuse also went to war. His regimental number was 3277 and was ranked Corporal, travelling in the 27th Battalion. Nathaniel was able to return to Australia.
Thomas enlisted for the war on 29 March 1916 at the age of 20 years and 7 months in Adelaide despite at the time everyone knowing the conditions and harshness of going to war, as well as the knowledge that his brother was at war. Upon enlistment he was given the rank Private. Thomas embarked on HMATA57 Malakuta from Adelaide on 27 June 1916.
He disembarked at Devonport, England on 22 August 1916. Then he marched into the 8th Training Battalion, Larkhill on 24 August 1916. Then he proceeded to France on 11 November 1916. There on 25 November 1916 he was taken on strength to join the 32nd Battalion in the field. Thomas was admitted to 8th Australian Field Ambulance Divisional Rest Station, 6 January 1917 due to the ingrown toenail and was discharged on furlough, 1 March 1917. Thomas spent the next several months with training battalions in England, then marched into Overseas Training Brigade, Longbridge Deverill on 19 October 1917. He then rejoined the 32nd Bn, in the field on 1 November 1917. Thomas was then again admitted to 8th Australian Field Ambulance, 26 January 1918 because of an ingrown toenail. He was then discharged to unit on 6 February 1918.
On 11 February 1918 he was found guilty of being absent without leave on active service from 1.30 pm until caught by Military Police at 8.10pm. This had caused him to miss the Reinforcements Train and was a given forfeiture of pay for one day. At that moment had 11 days in total. He then rejoined the Bn in the field on 11 Fbruary 1918. Thomas then was guilty of apperaing on parade unshaven on 9 March 1918. He was given a punichment of 1 day's Field Punishment No 2.
On 19 March 1918, Thomas was wounded in action. He was gassed (hit by a gas bomb) and was admitted to 15th Australian Field Ambulance. He then went on Ambulance Train No 19 on 23 March 1918, and admitted to 32nd Stationary Hospital, Wimereux, 24 March 1918. After that on 25 April 1918 Thomas had influenza. He had then been transferred to England on 8 May 1918 because of he had pleurisy. Thomas was then discharged on furlough on 8 June 1918.
Thomas marched out to Overseas Training Brigade, Longbridge Deverill on 9 August 1918. Then he proceeded overseas to France, 6 September 1918 and rejoined 32nd Bn, in the field on 11 September 1918. Thomas was found guilty on 13 November 1918 due to not being present on parade at 1000. On 12 November he was given the punishment of 3 days' Field Punishment No 2.
Thomas Skuse returned to Australia on board the HT 'Friedrichsruh' on 8 July 1919. Disembarked to Adelaide on 29 August 1919. Then he was discharged on 13 October 1919. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his contribution in the war. Thomas then died on 14 October 1925, around the age of 29. His memorial or cemetery is unknown.