Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Biography for PTE Thomas Arthur Roy Greaves

Service number: 13236

PTE Thomas Arthur Roy Greaves, born in April 1896 in Sydney, New South Wales,(1) he served in World War One as a driver for the HMAT Persic from 1916-1918.(2) Greaves lived in the Forbes Hotel, King Street, Sydney, New South Wales with his father Charles Edward Greaves.(1) He attended Sydney Technical High School in 1908 and graduated in 1914. He worked as an motor mechanic and electrician,(4) which specializes in helping repair service and maintain the steering, brakes, electric wiring and electric components in motor vehicles. Before the war he was single with no kids. (5)

Greaves enlisted to war on 25 September 1916 at the age of 20.(6) He embarked on the HMAT Persic in Melbourne on 22 December 1916 and he disembarked at Davenport on 3 March 1917.(7)  The training prior to this at the Sydney Showground was intense, he had to do weapons proficiency, basic drill orders, physical fitness, military discipline and command structure. He was likely to be in a few major battles such as the battle of Arras, the battle of Passchendaele and the battle of Amiens.

The first battle was the battle of Arras which occured from 9 April 1917 - 16 May 1917, which had terrible conditions like bad weather, and dogged defense, this cause the soldiers to be exhausted.(8) The battle was known for the British achieving the longest advance since trench warfare had become since the French Sixth Army.(9) He also was likely to be in the battle of Passchendaele which took place from 31 July 1917 - 10 Nov 1917 which had horrible conditions including unceasing rain and shellfire.(10) The battle was known for having the best offensive fighting force of the Western force.(11) The battle of Amiens was also a battle he most likely would have participated in, it started on the 8 Aug 1918 and only lasted 3 days.(12) This battle marked the start of what was known as the “hundred days” which led to the collapse of German armies and the end of the war.(13) As a driver for the HMAT Persic, Greaves played a vital role in ensuring the steady supply of food, war material, and the transportation of injured soldiers, all of which were essential for maintaining the war effort during the critical battles of the Western Front. He earned a British War medal and victory medal during his time as a soldier.

Greaves survived WW1 and returned to Australia on 4 November 1919 with no major injuries.(14) He might have gone back to his occupation before WW1 which was as a motor mechanic and electrician after the war. There was no information from any sources stating whether he was married after the war or had kids. His date of death has yet to be discovered.

References

Thomas Athur Roy Greaves, AIF Project

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Virtual War Memorial, Greaves Thomas Arthur Roy
Britannica, Battle of Arras
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Britannica, Battle of Passchendaele
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Britannica, Battle of Amiens
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National Archives Australia, Greaves Thomas Arthur Roy

Bibliography

Ken Stevenson, Research on Google Drive https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OimvGlf70tmshIwQfrxK_d4K9qbb8T_d

Virtual War Memorial, Greaves Thomas Arthur Roy https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/305620

National Archives Australia, Greaves Thomas Arthur Roy https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=4663926&isAv=N

Thomas Arthur Roy Greave, AIF project https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=117781

Thomas Arthur Roy Greaves, Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1814887

Britannica, Battle of Arras https://www.britannica.com/topic/Battle-of-Arras

Britannica, Battle of Passchendaele https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Passchendaele

Britannica, Battle of Amiens https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Amiens