Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born May 1892 Ballarat East, Victoria

Father Michael James CARMODY (b. 1862 - d. 02/09/1963 and 
Mother Mary Ellen Carmody (nee McManamny)
- b.1860 Ballarat, VIC - d. 11/11/1900 Fitzroy, VIC
  (buried together in Ballarat New Cemetery)
lived at 35 Clive Road, Upper Hawthorn, VIC on enlisting.
1923 moved to 5 Barkly Avenue, Malvern, VIC

Sister:  Margaret Emily (Rita) d. 26/10/1905 (5 years of age)

Thomas and his brother Lawrence were both student boarders at St Patrick's College,
Ballarat, Victoria.

WIFE:  Mrs Elsie Annie Carmody (nee Ramsay)
           lived with Thomas at 1 Davidson Street, North Richmond, VIC

Previous service:
4 years with 11th Australian Light Horse

Next of kin in service:
Brother
6323  Gunner Lawrence Francis Carmody
          November 1893 in Gheringhap, Victoria
          09/07/1915    enlisted in Melbourne, VIC
          18/11/1915    embarked Port Melbourne, VIC onboard HMAT A18 Wiltshire
                               as a Gunner with Field Artillery Brigade 4, Battery 10
          15/12/1915    disembarked into Suez, Egypt
          20/09/1917    wounded in action - remained on duty, in the field, Belgium
          25/09/1917    killed in action - Ypres, Belgium - 24 years of age
          Buried in:      Bellawarde Ridge Military Cemetery, Belgium   (3 miles east of Ypres)
          Later exhumed and reburied in:
                              Birr Cross Roads Cemetery, Zillebeke, Belgium
                              Plot IV (4), Row E, Grave 10
          His name is commemorated on Panel 13 at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT.

Son:
WWII  V57109  Private Alan Thoams CARMODY - b. 08/09/1920 Melbourne, VIC
          First enlisted into AIF - in Canberra, ACT
                   place of enlisting, VIC
                   posted to Melbourne University Rifle
                   23/03/1942  discharged from AIF
WWII 63088  Flight Lieutenant Alan Thomas CARMODY
          Second enlistment into RAAF
                  23/03/1942   enlisted into RAAF in Sydney, NSW
                  Last rank held  Flight Lieutenant with HQ E/A
                  03/11/1945   discharged from service
 

Thomas was described on enlisting as 24 years 4 months of age; married; 5' 7 /34" tall;
144 lbs; medium complexion; brown eyes; curly black hair; Roman Catholic

08/09/1916    enlisted in Melbourne, VIC

24/10/1916    appointed to No.2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corp, Laverton

25/10/1916    embarked Port of Melbourne, VIC onboard HMAT A38 Ulysses
                     as a Private with Australian Flying Corps,                    
                     No 2 Squadron, Head-Quarters
23/12/1916     disembarked into Plymouth, England

13/01/1917    Cor Command to administrative wing Royal Flying Corps, from
                    69th Australian Squadron Royal Flying Corps,

13/02/1917    rejoined unit from course of Instruction

28/07/1917    marched out to Brooklands from 69th Australian Flying Corps
31/07/1917    marched in to 69th Squadron

28/08/1917    awarded MERITOUS SERVICE MEDAL for Gallantry
                     "For great gallantry and devotion to duty, about 18:00 a Bristol
                      Flighter Machine from some cause unknown cuaght fire in a
                      hanger on the aerodrome at Premont.
                      Corporal Thomas James Carmody was the first to see the fire,
                      and he raced to the scene, but by the time that he arrived the
                      machine was a mass of flames and the ammunition was exploding
                      in all directions.  In spite of this and at great personal risk he laced
                      up the hanger thereby preventing the wind from fanning the fire,
                      and then proceeded to organise and direct the men who by this
                      time had arrived on the scene.  The night was dark that it was
                      impossible to distingush faces, but this NCO collected the men in
                      parties and directed the removal of allthe adjacent machines so
                      expidiously that no further damage was caused, except to the
                      original machine and hanger.
                      When the hanger collapsed and the fire was still burning firecely
                      he made splendid efforts to save several valuable wireless
                      instruments and fearlessly assisted in putting out the fire."
                      stated by:  Lieutenant Colonel J A Chamier DSO

24/08/1917    proceeded overseas to France

01/05/1918    promoted to Corporal Mechanic, in France with 3rd Squadron

21/08/1918    awarded BAR to MERITOUS SERVICE MEDAL for Gallantry

18/09/1918    remustered to Wireless Operator, in France
                     transferred from 3rd Squadron AFC to AFC Details British Expeditionary
                     Forces, but to remain attached to 3rd Squadron, in France

24/10/1918    promoted to Temporary Sergeant Mechanic

05/02/1919    promoted to Sergeant Mechanic

03/03/1919    marched out to England, ex Havre, France
04/03/1919    disembarked to Weymouth, England
                     marched in to 3rd Training Brigade

21/04/1919    transferred from 3rd Squadron AFC to be Temporary Warrant Officer Class 1
                     with AFC Education Staff for transport

06/05/1919    returned to Australia onboard Kaiser-i-hind
16/06/1919    disembarked into Australia

24/07/1919    discharged from service

Medals:         British War medal (59334), Victory medal (57733)
                    Meritorious Service Medal for Gallantry and
                    BAR to Meritorious Service Medal for Gallantry

Elsie and Tom settled back into civilian life and moved to 68 Aintree Road, East Malvern
Victoria.

One of their sons, Alan Thomas, (1920-1978) later Sir Alan, enlisted in 1940 in the Citizen Air Force of the Royal Australian Air Force, specialising as a radar officer.

Son:             Francis James Carmody - b. 29/10/1921 in Kew, VIC
                                                         d. 06/04/1973 in Canberra, ACT

12/03/1955    Thomas passed away in Sydney, New South Wales

Submitted by Julianne T Ryan.  13/01/2017.  Lest we forget.