Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Thomas was the son of Thomas NORRISH & Emma RIDGWAY and was born on the 30th of June 1893 in Hindmarsh, SA.

His parents were married on the 24th of May 1884 in St Mary’s Church, Burra, SA.

His father was the son of Richard NORRISH & Honora REGAN and was born on the 8th of March 1852 in Witheridge, Devon, England.
His mother was the daughter of Anthony RIDGWAY & Hannah OLDNALL and was born on the 19th of July 1855 in Tipton, Staffordshire, England.

Thomas was the youngest child born into this marriage of 5 children.

His father had previously married Elizabeth Ann FREER on the 23rd of July 1874 in Collaton, Devon, England and they had 2 children before she died.

His father had immigrated to Victoria on board the Cuzco on the 3rd of February 1883 with his 2 young daughters. He then headed to Burra and married Thomas’s mother.

At the age of 23, his mother had immigrated to South Australia by herself on board the Durham on the 14th of May 1879 and her occupation was a housemaid.

As soon as his parents married they moved to Wright Street, Adelaide and then in 1888 they had moved to Bertie Street, Hindmarsh West.

His father had gained employment as a boot maker at Mr. A. Dowie's factory and was highly respected. He was a prominent member of the Peace Lodge of Druids at Hindmarsh of which he has been elected Arch Druid in 1891.

Thomas never knew his father died on the 29th of December 1892 at their home in Bertie Street, Hindmarsh West while Emma was 3 months pregnant with Thomas.

They had spent the day at Largs Bay and returned home by train at 6.15pm and when only a short distance from his home Thomas Snr complained of pains in his chest, but as he had suffered from indigestion some time previously this was thought to be another attack.
After entering their home Thomas Snr sat in a chair for a few moments under the back veranda. He then rose and walk down the garden a short distance, when he suddenly turned round and fell forward on his face and died almost instantly.
Emma buried him in the Hindmarsh Cemetery.

By 1894 his mother was listed as a storekeeper in Bertie Street, Hindmarsh West
When Thomas was about 8 years old he suffered from paralysis to his right foot.

His mother then relocated the family to Port Road Croydon and after finishing school Thomas gained employment as a fitter with the South Australian Railways in the Islington Workshop.
He was then transferred to Gladstone in the clerical department of the SAR and he played cricket for Gladstone.

On the 12th of August 1915 his brother William enlisted into the 1st Divisional Signal Company (5184) and he embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT A19 Afric on the 5th of January 1916.

At the age of 23, Thomas enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 2nd of October 1916 in Adelaide and allotted the service number 4334 and posted to C Company, 2nd Depot Battalion and then transferred to the 32nd Battalion, 11th Reinforcements at Mitcham Camp.

On Wednesday the 1st of November, whilst he returned to Gladstone on short leave, the stationmaster at Gladstone presented Thomas with a safety razor, pipe and pouch of tobacco, cigarettes and a silver matchbox.

That evening the residents of Gladstone farewelled Thomas in the local Town Hall and he was presented with a nickel radium-faced wristlet watch.

Thomas embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A19 Afric on the 7th of November 1916. He spent Christmas Day on board the ship before disembarking in Plymouth on the 9th of January.

He then marched into the 8th Training Battalion in Hurdcott but whilst in training his right ankle became weak and he suffered from his paralysis in his foot again.
On the 25th of April he was posted to No.2 Command Depot in Weymouth and was recommended for return to Australia.

Thomas embarked from England on board HT Ayrshire on the 23rd of May 1917, disembarking in Adelaide on the 17th of July.
Thomas was then admitted into the 7th Australian General Hospital at Keswick for nine days from the 1st of August.

Thomas was discharged, medically unfit, from the AIF on the 24th of August 1917.

He returned to Gladstone and became the Secretary of the Gladstone Buffalo Lodge and joined the committee of the local Football Club.
He is also did some fitting work for the Gladstone Hotel.

In July 1924 the members of the Gladstone Buffalo Lodge held a farewell social for Thomas as he had been promoted to fitter in-charge at Cummins.

Thomas married Doris Mabel BONHAM on the 18th of October 1924 at the residence of her brother Herbert, in Solomontown, SA.
Doris was the daughter of James BONHAM & Sarah Ann HAILES and was born on the 1st of February 1900 in Telowie, SA.

They welcomed their first child; Cyril Ridgway, on the 4th of August 1925 in the Tumby Bay Hospital, followed by Edna Doris on the 17th of September 1926.

In 1928 Thomas was transferred to Thevenard with the SA Railways.

They welcomed two more children at Thevenard; Keith Thomas on the 15th of September 1928 and then Ivan Bruce on the 17th of January 1930.
Their eldest children attended the Ceduna Primary School until 1935 and then it appears that Doris and the children moved to Adelaide as in 1936 they were living at 7 Frederick Street, Welland and the children were attending the Welland School.

Then on the 22nd of March 1937 Thomas advertised that he would not be responsible for any debts contracted in his name.

Thomas died on the 6th of March 1938 in Thevenard and was buried three days later in the Ceduna Cemetery; Plot 82.
His grave is marked by a concrete slab.

On Monday the 7th of March his body was found floating in the bay about a mile from the Thevenard jetty, dressed in his pyjamas and boots.

Thomas was last seen alive at 9pm on Saturday the 5th and there was no evidence to show how he got into the water.
He was living in the Thevenard Hotel at the time of his death.
An inquest was deemed unnecessary.

Military 

At the age of 23, Thomas enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 2nd of October 1916 in Adelaide and allotted the service number 4334 and posted to C Company, 2nd Depot Battalion.
He listed his mother, of Port Road, Croydon, as his next of kin.

On the 26th of October he was transferred to the 32nd Battalion, 11th Reinforcements at Mitcham Camp

Thomas embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A19 Afric on the 7th of November 1916. He spent Christmas Day on board the ship before disembarking in Plymouth on the 9th of January.

He then marched into the 8th Training Battalion in Hurdcott but whilst in training his right ankle became weak and he suffered from his paralysis in his foot again.

On the 25th of April he was posted to No.2 Command Depot in Weymouth and was recommended for return to Australia.

Thomas embarked from England on board HT Ayrshire on the 23rd of May 1917, disembarking in Adelaide on the 17th of July.
Thomas was then admitted into the 7th Australian General Hospital at Keswick for nine days from the 1st of August.

Thomas was discharged, medically unfit, from the AIF on the 24th of August 1917 and awarded the British War Medal.