Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

I was recently looking at the file of Lieutenant Thomas Tierney DCM of the 42nd Battalion. Many years ago I was given a copy of a letter that he had written to the wife of one of his soldiers who had been killed in action but I had never investigated Lieutenant Tierney. Tierney joined as an original member of the 42nd Battalion at Enoggera in September 1915 having been a ‘business proprietor’ in Gladstone prior to enlistment. He sailed with the Battalion in June 1916 and arrived in England for further training and arrived in France with the Battalion in late November that year, having been promoted to sergeant. On 19 January, the 42nd Battalion took over trenches in front of Armentieres from the 44th Battalion and the two days later endured significant enemy artillery and minenwerfer fire resulting in two fatal casualties and 90 men wounded including Sergeant Tierney. His wound was not severe enough to require evacuation and he remained on duty. He was selected to attend officer training in England April and returned to the 42nd Battalion as a Second Lieutenant in August 1917. In June 1917 he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for actions earlier that year. On 25 April 1918 he was gassed and spent several weeks in hospital and on light duties before returning to the Battalion in late June. He would have fought in the Battle of Amiens on 8th August, the Black Day for the German Army, when the Australian and Canadian Corps were the spearhead of a 12-kilometre advance in a single day. On 14 August the Battalion was out of the line and resting near Corbie. Lieutenant Tierney was in his tent with a number of officers discussing the merits of various revolvers including a German Luger. Tierney pulled out his issue Webley and said, “My old gun will do me.” Just then his Webley fired and hit him in the leg, exclaiming “Great God, I have shot myself, take my puttees off Tom.” Lieutenant Tierney was charged with deliberately injuring himself but remained on duty. Tierney was leading a platoon or company in September 1918 when (at least) one of his soldiers, John McCarthy was killed in an attack by the 42nd Battalion near Cartingy, east of Peronne. Tierney wrote a beautiful letter to McCarthy’s wife. I think that task is one of the difficult things that a combat leader has to do and I can only imagine the long-term impact of having to write so many letter to loved ones about the death of one of your soldiers.

Tom Tierney was transferred to the 43rd Battalion in early November following the disbandment of the 42nd Battalion. A Field Court Martial was held in January1919 and he was acquitted of the charge relating to the wound from his own revolver. Lieutenant Thomas Tierney returned to Australia in August 1919 and his appointment with the AIF was terminated on 14 October 1919. Thomas must not have been good letter writer to his family as there are several letters in his file from his mother and sister asking for his address as they were not aware that he had been wounded, promoted or awarded the DCM. There is also a letter in his file from a Miss Nellie Cliwers of Bath in England, asking for his address in Australia as she was engaged to him and she wanted to contact him as she believed that he had returned to Australia. Apparently, Tierney had promised her that he would take her back to Australia with him.

Thomas Tierney died on 26 December 1964 aged 74 years. He is buried in the AIF section of the West Terrace Cemetery in Adelaide with a 42nd Battalion colour patch below the engraved Rising Sun badge. Interestingly, the inscription on his headstone reads, “Beloved Son of the Late John and Catherine Tierney, RIP.” There is no mention of a wife or children, so it is possible that he didn’t marry Nellie Cliwers, or anyone else. Perhaps the struggle of life after the Great War was just too much?

Source; National Archives of Australia and Qustralian War Memorial