THOMAS, Charles Victor Firmin
| Service Number: | 5145 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 January 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 23rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Bulgana, Victoria, Australia, 17 July 1897 |
| Home Town: | Stawell, Northern Grampians, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Salt Creek State School |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Killed in action, Broodseinde, Belgium, 4 October 1917, aged 20 years |
| Cemetery: |
Perth Cemetery (China Wall), Ypres Garter Point Cemetery Memorial No. 24. OUR BRIGHT HAPPY BOY 3RD SON OF W.G. & A. THOMAS TILL WE MEET AGAIN |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5145, 23rd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement Private, 5145, 23rd Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Armadale embarkation_ship_number: A26 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Embarked Private, 5145, 23rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Armadale, Melbourne |
Help us honour Charles Victor Firmin Thomas's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of William Griffith Thomas and Ada Thomas, of Stawell, Victoria, Australia.
Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Charles’s older brother 1306 Gunner Laven Llewlyn Griffith Thomas M.M., 22nd Field Artillery Brigade died of wounds on the 15 September 1916, age 25.
The two brothers were born at Bulgana, an area about 11 kilometres from Stawell, which today is home to 56 brand new wind turbines. Their image on the landscape would have been unimaginable to these two young diggers 120 years ago.
Charles was killed in action during the Battle of Broodseinde during the heavy fighting around Ypres, Belgium during 1917. He was initially buried in a marked grave at Garter Point Cemetery. These graves were moved to the Perth Cemetery (China Wall) Cemetery at Zillebeke during 1919.
The Stawell News printed an article about Charles Thomas during November 1917,
“Mr. and Mrs. W.G. Thomas, of Bulgana, were acquainted with the distressing news on Thursday that their third son, Private Charles V. Thomas was killed in action in France on the 4th October. The blow to the bereaved parents and their family, is more severe by reason of the fact that a little over twelve months ago another son, Gunner Laven L.G. Thomas, died as a result of wounds received whilst bravely attending a comrade who was in difficulties whilst the Germans were shelling their gun position, the heroic act being responsible for Gunner Thomas being awarded a Military Medal (posthumous). Private Charles Thomas was 20 years and 3 months old, and enlisted in January, 1916; he had been in France amongst the thickest of the fighting for many months. He was an extremely fine young chap, of temperate habits, upright in character, and a considerate son to his parents. He died a true patriot's death, and this should prove some little consolation to the bereaved relatives. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have the deepest sympathy of relatives in their latest war bereavement, and also in the fact that they have been called on to sacrifice two sons in the cause of Empire and humanity. As a mark of respect, the flag at the Town Hall was yesterday flown at half-mast.”
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