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Thomas Skelly, a Wallabalooa man, enlisted for service with the Australian Imperial Force on the 10th of February 1916 and was allotted to the 54th Battalion.

In February 1917, the 54th Battalion was involved in pursuing the German army as it withdrew to the prepared defensive positions known as the Hindenburg Line.

Skelly saw his first major action a few days later when the second battle of Bullecourt began. On the 15th of May, the battalion was in defensive positions and repelled a German attack. Prior to the attack, the battalion’s positions had been heavily shelled, causing severe casualties.

Thomas Skelly then took part in major operations at Polygon Wood, Broodseinde Ridge, Villers-Bretonneux, and saw action when the allies launched their great offensive on the 8th of August 1918. Although 54th Battalion was not initially involved, by the end of the month it was in position to launch an attack on the medieval town of Peronne.

On the morning of the 1st of September, the 53rd and 54th Battalions attacked Anvil Wood, one of the key defensive positions in front of Peronne. After capturing the wood, the battalions continued their attack towards the town. As the 54th Battalion neared the town, Skelly was killed instantly by multiple pieces of shrapnel when a high explosive shell burst nearby.

Thomas Skelly was commemorated in a Last Post Ceremony held at the Australian War Memorial on Thursday 31 May. Watch it online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvKqrTCqyzE

#NRW2018

Courtesy of the Australian War Memorial

Thomas (Tom) Skelly, the fifth child of John Skelly and Caroline Wade was born 20 May 1880 and was one of four brothers who joined the First World War.  Tom's mother Caroline Wade (her real name was Wedge) was the daughter of Edward (Ned) Wedge and an aboriginal woman.

Tom, born at Lachlan River in NSW, had his schooling at the Convent in Nyngan.  After the death of his father Caroline and the rest of the family moved to Dubbo when an older half sister, Catherine Byrum, was living.  Caroline died in 1910 leaving Catherine to be both mother and sister to the Skelly boys. 

Tom was 35 years old when he enlisted on 10 February 1916 in Dubbo, naming his younger brother, Hubert, as next of kin, however this was changed when Tom made a will naming his sister, Catherine as his beneficiary.  Tom was single, a bookmakes clerk and resided at the Hamers Hotel in Dubbo, he was a tall man standing 6 feet with medium complexion, blue eyes and brown hair.  After his initial training in the Dubbo Camp he was transferred to the Bathurst Camp, returning to Dubbo on leave at least on two occasions, the last time was in the middle of May to visit his sister before returning to Bathurst to make preparations for sailing to the battlefields of France.

HMATBarambah left Sydney for England on the 23 June, on board with Tom were other members of the 3rd reinforcement, 54th Battalion that was attached to the 14th Brigade which was under the command of the newly created 5th Division.  The training base in England was at Lark Hill, a former British camp just north of Stonehenge where the 3rd reinforcement completed their final training before sailing across the Channel to Etaples in France.

Tom was joined by an older brother, Charles (Abe) in October who  was also assigned to Tom's battalion.  Tom and Abe went AWL for two days before being apprehended by the authorites.  Tom was given seven days' detention and fined.

Tom and Abe left for France in December and was taken on strength of their battalion on Christmas Eve.  Sadly they never reunited with their brother, Brickey, as he had been killed in action on 5 January 1917.

During May Tom and Abe saw their first major action when the second battle of Bullecourt began, the battalion was heavily shelled.  Tom's brother Abe was was wounded and was evacuated to England where he recovered but returned to Australia as medically unfit.  Tom stayed with his battalion for the rest of 1917 and into 1918 on the Western Front.

Early in April 1918 Tom's battalion took part in the first battle of Villers-Bretonneux which saw a successful defence of the town.  When the Germans captured the town late April, Tom's battalion was involved in the counter attack with the Australians taking back the town.

At daylight on 1 September the 54th in company with the 53rd Battalions led an attack on the town of Peronne.  During this advance Tom was hit by a shell and killed instantly, the town was eventually taken on 2 September.

The Dubbo Liberal on 24 September reported; 'News was received in Dubbo on Saturday that another brave Dubbo lad, Private Tom Skelly had made the Great Sacrifice fighting for Freedom and Liberty on the battlefields, of France.  The deceased enlisted about three years ago in Dubbo, and was in the local camp for some time, afterwards going to Bathurst where he finished his training.  He then went overseas, and ever since has been doing his part bravely and manfully to keep the Empire free from the taint of German rule.  A fine specimen of Australian manhood, he was a favorite, on account of his quiet and unassuming disposition, with all with whom he came contact, widespread are the expressions of regret at his death, and his sister (Mrs Byrum) and family have the deepest sympathy in their sad bereavement.  Another brother made the Supreme Sacifice some time ago, one has returned wounded and unfit for active service, and one, in Palestine, remains still assisting in the work of beating back the German hordes.  To the bereaved ones the Liberal offers its deepest sympathy.'

Several weeks later the war had ended but Catherine's heartache did not, on 13 February 1919 she wrote a letter pleading for any information on what had happen to Tom, she also stated that nothing of his had been returned to her.  After no reply she wrote another letter this time begging the Army for his disc and the silver locket with her photo inside that he always carried.  The Red Cross was able to locate members of Tom's battalion in various hospitals and was able to piece together his last morning on the battlefield.

The Red Cross had over time interviewed many of Tom's mates and passed onto Catherine what they had found.  All of them spoke highly of him and many of them made sure that he had been properly buried by going back and seeing for themselves that his grave had a cross with his name on it. 

Catherine herself died 11 July 1919, many of her family said she died of a broken heart as Tom had always been the family's favourite.  She never received Tom's belongings or her silver locket, his personal effects were eventually returned to his brother, Hubert, in 1923.

Tom's remains were to be relocated to the Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension.

Submitted by Patricia Kennedy