TOUCHELL, Thomas John
| Service Number: | 909 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 8 January 1917, Perth, Western Australia |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 59th Broad Gauge Railway Operating Coy |
| Born: | Trial Hill, South Australia, 27 December 1873 |
| Home Town: | Fremantle, Fremantle, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Locomotive Engine Driver |
| Died: | Natural causes, Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia, 18 November 1965, aged 91 years |
| Cemetery: |
Fremantle Cemetery, Western Australia |
| Memorials: | Fremantle Loyal Orange Lodge "No Surrender" No 7 Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 8 Jan 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 909, Railway Unit (AIF), Perth, Western Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Jan 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 909, Railway Unit (AIF), Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '6' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Miltiades embarkation_ship_number: A28 public_note: '' | |
| 29 Jan 1917: | Embarked AIF WW1, Corporal, 909, Railway Unit (AIF), HMAT Miltiades, Fremantle | |
| 1 Mar 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Corporal, 909, 59th Broad Gauge Railway Operating Coy |
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Thomas John Touchell was the third child of George and Charlotte (nee Denton) Touchell, born in Trial Hill South Australia. On 7th April 1895 he married Lucy Gennet Rose (born 22nd Novebmer 1871) of Busselton, daughter of Samual and Mary (nee Forrest) Rose.
Thomas John and Lucy Touchell had 2 children - Thomas Daniel (known as Danny) born 18th July 1899 and Torrence Ogilvie born 7th April 1902.
Thomas John Touchell had a long career with the West Australian Government Railways in Kalgoorlie and Boulder. He qualified in the position of Fireman in 1901, Ambulance Officer in 1905 and Driver in 1911. Within the railways he moved first to Bunbury and then to Fremantle. He served in the Railway Corps on acrive service with the Australian Imperial Forces from 15th January 1915 to 28th February 1919.
Upon his discharge he returned to the Railways until he resigned 15th August 1928. At this time he took advantage of the governmene scheme aimed at ex-servicemen whereby they were granted a parcel of land on which to farm. The farm was in Billiracay Narembeen Western Australia. After the sudden death of Lucy, Thomas remarried Margaret Susannah Cleale (nee Fox), daughter of James and Sarah Fox of Battersea, UK.
Thomas and Margaret Touchell left the farm in the early 1940's and took up residence in the town of Narembeen where they operated a small retail store. They remained there until Margaret's death, when Thomas moved to Perth and lived with his step-son Charles Cleale for a time. He lived the last years of his life with his son Torrence and daughter in laqw Rena (nee Plumb). Thomas John Touchell died on 18th November 1965 in Fremantle hospital. He was 91 years of age. A rose bush was planted for him at Fremantle Cemetery Western Australia
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