MCDERMOTT, Thomas
| Service Number: | 3181 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 September 1916, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
| Born: | Thames, New Zealand, 1886 |
| Home Town: | Boulder, Kalgoorlie/Boulder, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Government School |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 25 April 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" No known grave, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Boulder Roll of Honour Board, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Sep 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3181, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Dec 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3181, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1), Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: '' | |
| 23 Dec 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3181, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1), HMAT Berrima, Fremantle | |
| 25 Apr 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3181, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1), Villers-Bretonneux |
Private Thomas McDermott - Service number: 3181
Thomas McDermott was born in the 3rd quarter of 1886, the ninth of eleven children, seven boys and four girls. His parents John McDermott (1844-1923) and Sarah Jane nee Smith (1850-1905) were married in Auckland in 1866, quite soon after they both arrived in New Zealand from England. They settled in Thames, Waikato, where his father and grandfather, John Smith, worked and had rights in the gold mines.All the children were born in Thames. In 1898 all the family except one brother left New Zealand and moved to Kalgoorlie, Western Australia and continued working in the gold mines. When the First World War broke out, Thomas was the only one of the family to sign up to fight.
Thomas signed up on the 4th September 1916, part of the 51st Infantry Battalion, 8th reinforcement. His home address was the Federal Hotel, Kalgoorlie, and he was a miner.
Age: 28, 3 months.
Height: 5' 4"
Weight: 132lbs.
Complexion: Ruddy.
Eyes: Hazel.
Hair: Brown.
23.12.1916: Embarkation: Fremantle, Australia - HMAT Berrima
16.2.1917: Disembarkation: Devonport, Plymouth, Devon, England.
21.2.1917: Marched into 16th Tng Btn Hurdcott, Wiltshire.
5.3.1917: Hurdcott Camp to 15th Battalion.
6.3.1917: Marched into 13th Tng Btn Codford, Salisbury, Wiltshire.
14.6.1917: Southampton, proceeded overseas to France.
15.6.1917: Arrival at Le Havre, France.
3.7.1917: Le Havre to join unit.
4.7.1917: 51st Battalion taken on strength into the field.
25.4.1918: Killed in action at Villers Bretonneux.
His identity disc was received by his brother George after it arrived back in Australia via ex Australcrag.
His nephew Reg Dewar, son of Arthur Ebenezer Dewar and Mary nee McDermott, died of his wounds on 7th January 1945, in New Guinea having fought in World War 2.
Submitted 15 June 2017 by Amanda Fernando
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