Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Rev. P.C. THOMAS

Came to Adelaide when 3 years old with father who took was appointed to the Draper Memorial Church, Adelaide in 1890

Educated at Prince Alfred College and studied Medicine at University of Adelaide.  He graduated in 1911

He was appointed as the Deputy Officer of Health for the districe of English in 1920

Married Ida Florence Kingston nee ANNELLS 06 December 1922 at Methodist Church, Woodville, SA

Appointed Deputy Officer of Health for the District of Julia

Practised Medicine as a General Pracitioner at Eudunda, SA

THOMAS Edward Brooke MB BS

1887-1949

Edward Brooke Thomas was born in Perth, Western Australia on 30th July 1887. His father was the Reverend P. C. Thomas and prior to Edward’s birth was the minister of the Wesley Church in Port Adelaide. The Reverend Thomas was appointed to the Wesley Church in Perth in 1887. Reverend Thomas returned to Adelaide to take up an appointment at the Draper Memorial Church, Adelaide in 1890 when Edward was three years old. Thomas was educated at Prince Alfred College. He studied medicine at the University of Adelaide and graduated in 1911.

Thomas enlisted as a captain in the AIF Adelaide on 17th January 1916 and was posted to 12 FdAmb. He was described as single and aged 28 years old, 5ft 7½ins tall, weighed 141lbs of dark complexion with brown eyes and black hair. His father was given as his next of kin and they lived at Kalimna 24 Marlborough Street, College Park, South Australia. He embarked on the Orsova from Melbourne on 16th March 1916 and he joined his unit, 12 FdAmb on 22nd April 1916 in Egypt and moved from Alexandria to Marseilles on 4th June 1916 disembarking on 11th June 1916. He was detached to three of the Battalions during September and October 1916. He was posted to the 46 Bn as RMO on 16th December 1916. He suffered gunshot wounds to the left elbow and right knee on 10th July 1917 at Messines. He was hospitalised in 14th General Hospital in Boulogne and later transferred to England. He was discharged to duty on 13th of August 1917. He was first sent to 2nd Convalescent Depot and on 20th October 1918 to Cambridge Military Hospital He was “brought to the notice of the Secretary of State for War for the valuable services he had rendered”, on 27th March 1919.  He apparently suffered no permanent disability from his wounds. He was appointed as medical officer on 16th June 1919 for the Transport Ormonde returning to Australia and disembarked on 30th July 1919 in 4MD. His appointment in the AIF was terminated on 21st September 1919. He was issued with the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Thomas was appointed as the Deputy Officer of Health for the district of English in 1920. He married Ida Florence Kingston Annells, the daughter of Edward Thomas Annells and Mary Crossman, nee Brown, on the 6th December 1922 in the Methodist Church, Woodville, South Australia. He was appointed as Deputy Officer of Health for the District of Julia. He spent most of his working life in Eudunda as a general practitioner. Edward Brooke Thomas, died on 28th July 1949 in Eudunda.

Source

Blood, Sweat and Fears: Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australia, who Served in World War 1. 

Verco, Summers, Swain, Jelly. Open Books Howden, Adelaide 2014. 

Uploaded by Annette Summers AO RFD