THURLBECK, Peter
| Service Number: | 6851 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 31 August 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 15th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | North Shields, Northumberland, England, 20 May 1881 |
| Home Town: | Townsville, Townsville, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Everton Park, Queensland, Australia, 20 June 1949, aged 68 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane, Qld Laid to rest with his wife Elenor, Monumental Portion 2 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 31 Aug 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6851, 15th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Nov 1916: | Involvement Private, 6851, 15th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Kyarra embarkation_ship_number: A55 public_note: '' | |
| 17 Nov 1916: | Embarked Private, 6851, 15th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Kyarra, Brisbane | |
| 18 Nov 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 6851, 15th Infantry Battalion, 1st MD |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From Australian Remembrance Army
Private Peter Thurlbeck (Service No. 6851), an Australian World War One veteran, is among almost 800 previously unmarked WWI veterans’ graves in Lutwyche Cemetery we have now marked with a plaque in recognition of their service for Australia.
We unveiled his plaque in Lutwyche Cemetery on 20 September 2025, along with a further 161 plaques on the previously unmarked graves of Australian World War One veterans:
See Australian Remembrance Army Facebook page
Peter Thurlbeck was born on 20 May 1881 at North Shields, Northumberland, England. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Townsville on 31 August 1916, aged 35, and was employed as a labourer at the time of enlistment. On 17 November 1916, he embarked for overseas service with the 15th Battalion aboard Kyarra from Brisbane, disembarking at Plymouth, England, on 30 January 1917.
In May 1917 he proceeded to France, but three months later was returned to England suffering from rheumatism and trench fever. In November 1917, he married Elenor (“Nell”) Harrison at Gretna, England. He rejoined his battalion in France in January 1918 and, in June of that year, sustained a gunshot wound to his left arm, after which he was again invalided to England for treatment.
In April 1919 he was admitted to hospital suffering from influenza. He returned to Australia in August 1919 aboard the troopship HMAT Ceramic and was formally discharged from the Australian Imperial Force in November 1919.
Following his return to Australia, he and Nell are recorded as living in Everton Park and he was employed as a labourer.
Private Peter Thurlbeck died on 20 June 1949, aged 68, and was buried the following day in Monumental Portion 2, Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane. He was laid to rest with his wife, Elenor, who had predeceased him by one year. The couple had no children.
After decades without recognition at his place of burial, his grave now bears a plaque commemorating his service to Australia — ensuring his name endures among those remembered for their duty and sacrifice. His identity and dignity have now been restored.
We have remembered him.
Lest We Forget.
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