John (Jack) TOMICH MM

John (Jack) TOMICH MM Update Details

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TOMICH, John

Service Number:	2234
Enlisted:	2 June 1915, Keswick, South Australia
Last Rank:	Corporal
Last Unit:	27th Infantry Battalion
Born:	Port Pirie, South Australia, 1 May 1894
Home Town:	Solomontown, Port Pirie, South Australia
Schooling:	Port Pirie Public School, South Australia
Occupation:	Blacksmith
Died:	Killed in Action, France, 29 August 1918, aged 24 years
Cemetery:	Assevillers New British Cemetery Plot V, Row F, Grave 3
Memorials:	Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Port Pirie Blocks School Honor Roll, Port Pirie Fathers of Sailors and Soldiers Association Port Pirie District Roll of Honor WW1

World War 1 Service

2 Jun 1915:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2234, 27th Infantry Battalion, Keswick, South Australia
21 Sep 1915:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2234, 27th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of England embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: ''
21 Sep 1915:	Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2234, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Star of England, Adelaide
12 Jan 1916:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2234, 27th Infantry Battalion
21 Mar 1916:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2234, 27th Infantry Battalion
6 Oct 1917:	Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 2234, 27th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres
Date unknown:	Involvement 27th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières

Help us honour John Tomich's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography

Described on enlisting as 21 years 1 month old; single; 5’ 9½” tall; 160 lbs;
dark complexion; hazel eyes; brown hair; Church of England.

Mother Mrs Edith Tomich (nee Franz - parents were Swiss), lived in Renmark
(19/6/1919 – living at Wakefield St, Adelaide)
Edith had been separated from husband Nicholas for 14 years.

Father Nicholas Tomich (noted 9/8/1919 – c/o Castle Salt Company, Snowtown)

From the Attestation Papers:-
‘next of kin’ - 1905 Nicholas was complicated in an assault case with another woman in Adelaide, and Edith never saw or heard from him again.

Siblings: 3 sisters (noted on 8/7/1919 - one married in Broken Hill,
one married in Port Pirie and one 14 years in Port Pirie)

Previous service: Senior Cadets 81st Infantry, transferred to Citizen Forces 81st
Battalion – still serving

2/6/1915 Completed medical – fit for service

2/6/1915 Enlisted at Keswick

29/6/1915 Commanding Officer appointed John to 4th reinforcements,
27th Infantry Battalion, Mitcham Camp

21/9/1915 Embarked from Adelaide on HMAT A15 Star Of England
Private with 4th Reinforcements

15/12/1915 Admitted to hospital - mild Influenza

28/12/1915 Discharged

12/1/1916 Taken on strength – Tel-el-Kabir, Egypt

10/3/1916 Transferred from 7th reinforcements, F Company Engineers to 27th Battalion

15/3/1916 Proceeded to join British Expeditionary Force, ex Alexandria, Egypt

21/3/1916 Disembarked Marseilles, France

7/7/1916 Gun shot wound to the right thigh and knee, France and was evacuated to England

8/7/1916 Transferred to No.8 Casualty Clearing Station

10/7/1916 Transferred to H.S. St Denis at Boulogne, then embarked to England

11/7/1916 Reported to Colchester General Hospital, London, England
– with severe bullet wound to Elbow (44 days)

23/8/1916 Discharged from Hospital to Weymouth

25/8/1916 Granted and proceeded on Furlo (leave)

12/9/1916 Admitted to Bulford hospital

9/10/1916 Reported back from Furlough and reclassified

10/10/1916 Transferred to Brigade Hospital

1/11/1916 Discharged from hospital

28/12/1916 Proceeded overseas to France, ex Folkestone England,
per SS “Princess Clementine”

29/12/1916 Marched in ex England, ex Etaples

4/2/1917 Marched out to unit, Etaples

10/2/1917 Rejoined battalion, France

8/3/1917 In Salisbury, England

20-21/9/1917       At Westhoek, John acted as a Stretcher Bearer and displayed great courage and
                            devotion to duty. His behaviour stood out conspicuously amongst the bearers. He
                            denied himself any rest throughout both days and nights, and undoubtedly saved
                            many men from death, who would otherwise have died of wounds.

5/10/1917 Private in 27th Battalion

6/10/1917 Promoted to Corporal, Belgium

14/10/1917          Awarded the Military Medal for his actions on 20 and 21 September 1917,
                            when he 'displayed great courage and devotion to duty' as a stretcher bearer
                            at Westhoek.

15/1-2/2/1918 On English leave Belgium

2/2/1918 Returned from English leave, France

13/6/1918 Sick to hospital – boils to neck
- Admitted to No. 20 Casualty Clearing Station, France

16/6/1918 Rejoined 27th Battalion

29/8/1918 Killed in action, France

Buried: Assevillers New British Cemetery, Assevillers, Picardie, France
Plot V, Row F, Grave No. 3

Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan. 22 August 2014. Lest we forget.

Biography contributed by Daryl Jones

Corporal JACK TOMICH, M.M., who was killed in action on August 29, was the only son of Mrs. E. Tomich, of Adelaide (late of Port Pirie). He enlisted early in 1915, and sailed for the front on September 21 of that year with the 27th Battalion. In 1916 he was severely wounded, and after being in the hospital for some months he returned to the line. He left as a private, and in 1917 won the Military Medal for bravery on the battlefield. Prior to enlisting he was employed at the Port Pirie smelters. He was 24 years of age, and was much liked by all his comrades.

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