SPARK, Thomas Michael
| Service Number: | 1718 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 22 February 1916, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 39th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Amherst, Victoria , 1882 |
| Home Town: | Cobden, Corangamite, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Tuberculosis, Cobden, Victoria , 13 June 1930 |
| Cemetery: |
Cobden Cemetery |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 22 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1718, Melbourne, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 May 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1718, 39th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
| 27 May 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1718, 39th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Melbourne | |
| 13 Jun 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 1718, 39th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Peter Spark
Thomas’ eldest sister Catherine was 20 when he was born and about to be married and leaving home.
Thomas married Gladys Irene Smead, the second eldest of a family of 13 children. After his father died Thomas took over the farm near Cobden. He enlisted as a soldier in the First World War in February 1916, but was discharged in 1918 at the age of 36 years because of ill health.
Tuberculosis was taking its toll again. He spent from Nov 1916 to Dec 1917 in various military hospitals. He had first been taken ill at two years of age. He returned to Australia on the 31st December 1917 and was discharged from the army in June 1918. He spent the rest of his life suffering from the ill effects of the disease.
It seems during 1916 Gladys moved to 13 York street Prahran. However after the war they must have returned to Cobden. Thomas was described as 5 fee 5 ½ inches tall, with black hair and brown eyes. He was of small stature.
Thomas Michael died from Tuberculosis at the age of 49 on the 13 June 1930.
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