MCGUANE, Thomas
| Service Number: | 1646 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 14th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Woodend, Victoria, Australia, 1894 |
| Home Town: | Coburg, Moreland, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Driver |
| Died: | Dysentry & Hepatic Abscess, Burdon Military Hospital, Weymouth, Dorset, England , 24 March 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Melcombe Regis Cemetery, Dorset, England Plot II, C, Grave 3097 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Woodend War Memorial Clock Tower |
World War 1 Service
| 27 May 1916: | Involvement Private, 1646, 37th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 May 1916: | Embarked Private, 1646, 37th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Melbourne | |
| 24 Mar 1918: | Involvement Private, 1646, 14th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1646 awm_unit: 14 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1918-03-24 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Died on this date – 24th March …… Thomas McGuane was born at Woodend, Victoria in 1894 to parents Patrick & Maria Teresa McGuane (nee Hart). (According to information provided by his father for the Roll of Honour – Thomas was recorded as having been born at Coburg, Victoria).
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 17th March, 1916 as a 21 year old, single, Driver from 87 Munro Street, Coburg, Victoria. Thomas stated on his Attestation Papers that he had served with Citizen Forces. Thomas’s older brother – Michael McGuane had enlisted on 1st March, 1916.
Private Thomas McGuane, Service number 1646, & his brother Private Michael McGuane both embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Ascanius (A11) on 27th May, 1916 with the 10th Infantry Brigade, 37th Infantry Battalion, 1st Reinforcements. Private Thomas McGuane failed to re-embark on Ascanius at Capetown on 18th June, 1916. He disembarked at Devonport, England on 18th July, 1916.
On 26th July, 1916 Private Thomas McGuane was written up: 1. Absent from Parade in that he at Capetown on 21st June, 1916 when on Route March left Parade without permission. 2. Absent without Leave from 2 pm on 21st June, 1916 to 10 am on 22nd June, 1916. He was awarded 168 hours detention & forfeited a total of 9 days pay.
Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.
He was taken on strength of 10th Training Battalion from 37th Battalion on 11th August, 1916.
Private Thomas McGuane was marched in to 2nd Training Battalion on 16th September, 1916, transferring to 5th Battalion from 37th Battalion. He proceeded overseas from England on 16th September, 1916 to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force) & was transferred to 5th Battalion. Private McGuane joined 1st A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Etaples, France on 17th September, 1916.
On 20th October, 1916 Private Thomas McGuane proceeded to join 14th Battalion from Reinforcements of 5th Battalion from 1st A.D.B.D. He joined 14th Battalion in the Field on 22nd October, 1916.
Private Thomas McGuane was wounded in action in France on 1st December, 1916. He was admitted to 3rd Stationary Hospital at Rouen, France on 3rd December, 1916 with Shell Shock. Private McGuane was transferred to 2nd Convalescent Depot at Rouen on 7th December, 1916 & discharged to Base Details on 9th December, 1916.
He was marched in to 4th A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Etaples, France on 11th December, 1916 from Hospital. Private Thomas McGuane proceeded to join his Unit from 4th A.D.B.D. on 31st July, 1917 & joined his Unit in France on 2nd April, 1917.
A General Court Martial was held on 27th July, 1917 in the Field for Private Thomas McGuane. Charge – When on active service absenting himself without leave from 29th June, 1917 to 16th July, 1917. Finding – Guilty. Sentence - 90 days Field Punishment No. 1 & forfeited 118 days pay.
[Note: Private Thomas McGuane’s older brother – Private Michael McGuane (also of 14th Battalion) was Court Martialled on 8th August, 1917. Charge – Desertion 29th June, 1917 to 25th July, 1917. He was found guilty & Sentenced to Death. This was commuted to 10 years Penal Servitude.]
Private Thomas McGuane reported sick from Field Compound & was admitted to 48th Field Ambulance on 6th September, 1917 with Diarrhoea. He was transferred & admitted to 44th Field Ambulance on 6th September, 1917 then transferred on 8th September, 1917 to 50th Field Ambulance. Private McGuane was transferred to 53rd Casualty Clearing Station on 13th September, 1917 then transferred to Ambulance Train 46 on the same day. He was then admitted to 16th General Hospital at Le Treport on 14th September, 1917 – cause N.Y.D. (not yet determined). Private McGuane was transferred & admitted to No. 3 Convalescent Depot at Boulogne, France on 3rd October, 1917 then transferred back to No. 16 General Hospital at Le Treport on 5th October, 1917 with Enteritis. Private McGuane was transferred to England on 9th November, 1917.
On 12th November, 1917 Private Thomas McGuane was admitted to University War Hospital, Southampton, England with Dysentery. He was transferred to Dysentery Convalescent Hospital at Barton, New Milton on 4th December, 1917. Private McGuane was discharged to Administrative Headquarters London on 27th December, 1917.
He was on Furlo from 27th December, 1917 until 10th January, 1918 & was then to report to No. 1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny.
Private Thomas McGuane was marched in to No. 1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny, Wiltshire on 3rd January, 1918. He was medically classified as B1 A2 (fit for Overseas Training Camp in 3 – 4 weeks).
On 11th February, 1918 Private Thomas McGuane was sent sick to Sutton Veny Hospital & was admitted to Military Hospital at Sutton Veny on 12th February, 1918 with persistent diarrhoea. He was discharged to No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, Dorset on 16th March, 1918 & was marched in to No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, Dorset, England on the same day.
He was sent sick to Burdon Hospital, Weymouth on 23rd March, 1918 from No. 2 Command Depot.
Private Thomas McGuane died at 4.10 am on 24th March, 1918 at Burdon Military Hospital, Weymouth, Dorset, England from Dysentry & Hepatic Abscess. (Note: The Morning State of Sick form – Army Form A. 27 recorded the place of death as “Central Military Hospital, Weymouth”.& the cause of death as “Dysentery & Abscess of Liver”. The Report of Death of a Soldier – Army Form B. 2090 recorded Private Thomas McGuane as an Ironworker who died at Burdon Military Hospital Weymouth from “Dysentery & Abscess of Liver”.)
He was buried in Melcombe Regis Cemetery, Weymouth, Dorset, England where 82 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/m.html
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