Thomas David MERTON DCM

MERTON, Thomas David

Service Number: 5136
Enlisted: 27 January 1916, 3mths Militia
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 33rd Infantry Battalion
Born: Braidwood, New South Wales, Australia, December 1894
Home Town: Newtown (NSW), Inner West, New South Wales
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Pipe fitters assistant
Died: SW left side of chest and buttocks, 3rd Aust Casualty Clearing Station, Belgium, 17 October 1917
Cemetery: Nine Elms British Cemetery
Nine Elms British Cemetery (Plot VI, Row C, Grave No. 5), Poperinghe, Belgium, Nine Elms British Cemetery, Poperinghe, Flanders, Belgium
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
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World War 1 Service

27 Jan 1916: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5136, 17th Infantry Battalion, 3mths Militia
5 Jun 1916: Involvement Private, 5136, 17th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Kyarra embarkation_ship_number: A55 public_note: ''
5 Jun 1916: Embarked Private, 5136, 17th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Kyarra, Sydney
30 Sep 1916: Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 33rd Infantry Battalion
20 Aug 1917: Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal, German Withdrawal to Hindenburg Line and Outpost Villages, 23rd Febuary, 1917. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He advanced under cover of a fog and took up a position in "No Man's Land" from which he shot five of the enemy. He has at all times displayed great courage and initiative.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 133
16 Oct 1917: Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 5136, 33rd Infantry Battalion, 1st Passchendaele, SW left side of chest and buttocks. DoW 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station.
17 Oct 1917: Involvement Private, 5136, 33rd Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 5136 awm_unit: 33rd Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1917-10-17

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Biography contributed by Evan Evans

Pte Thomas David MERTON appears to have been a sniper.  This is supported by the Red Cross testimony of Pte CM McCarthy #827 33rd Bn.  It was with his sniping duties near the Roulers-Ypres railway that he was hit by a shell fragments.