S25384
JAMES, Thomas Dodding Lewis
| Service Numbers: | 7104, 7014 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 31 October 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | St Peters, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, June 1894 |
| Home Town: | Prospect, Prospect, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Grocer |
| Memorials: | Prospect Roll of Honour G-Z WWI Board |
World War 1 Service
| 31 Oct 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 7104, 10th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Dec 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 7014, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: '' | |
| 16 Dec 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 7014, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Berrima, Adelaide | |
| 11 Aug 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 7014, 10th Infantry Battalion, "The Last Hundred Days", fought in the battle of Arpy Wood and witnessed the death of two soldiers. he wrote a letter to confirm their death | |
| 1 May 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, 7014, 10th Infantry Battalion, returned from war |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Saint Ignatius' College
Biography of Thomas Dodding Lewis James (adjusted word count 400-600)
Thomas Dodding Lewis James was born in Adelaide, South Australia. He enlisted for duty in October 1916 and departed for war 2 months later in December 1916. He left on a ship called the HMAT Berrima at the age of 22 ¼ years old. It can therefore be assumed that he was born sometime in June 1894. Thomas’s religion was Presbyterian. Thomas’s next of kin was his mother Mrs Sarah-Jane James and he was not married. Thomas and his Mum lived in Prospect, Adelaide, South Australia. Before the war Thomas’s occupation was a Grocer, most likely in Prospect. He had served six months in the Militia's 80th Battalion but been discharged as medically unfit.
Thomas was a Private for the 10th Infantry Battalion, AIF WW1 and his Regimental Number was 7014. Thomas embarked on war on a ship called the HMAT Berrima for 3 months.
During his service he fought in Arpy Wood alongside the 10th Battalion in August 1918. During this fight he witnessed the death of two and possibly three soldiers, Sargent Charles William, an unknow soldier who’s initials were ‘A.L’ and a soldier by the name of ‘Ahern’. Thomas knew Charles William quite well and I believe his death was quite sad for Thomas. Thomas bore witness to a Red Cross investigator to confirm the deaths of two of the soldiers. This displays the Anzac spirit of mateship by helping out their families by confirming their deaths rather them letting them think they were missing for ever. This is the story of ‘The Fight’, in Thomas’s words, “the 10th battalion went over the top on August 11th 1918 and took Arpy Wood early in the morning and held it. The 12th Battalion went through us on the same day and advanced the line and held it. There where 24 of our lads buried in a grave with a large cross on top”.
Thomas provided this information while in the convalescent camp at Rouelles. Thomas spend a lot of time during his service in hospital. Some of the dates include the 17-5-18, 18-5-18, 12-10-18 and 24-4-18. This indicates that he was falling sick in a short periods of time and highlights the Anzac spirit of endurance and courage. It displays endurance for being able to get sick so often and still be able to fight in the war and it would be courage for not to get scared and leave the war.
There is not much that we know about Thomas’s life after the war but it is highlighted that he was reported missing for 5 days. We don’t know why he was missing but he was reported missing from his work place. We also know he married and had a daughter, Marie Jean, who married James Edwin McKenzie-Campbell in 1951.
Thomas was very lucky that he was not killed in action during his service like a lot of his comrades. He participated in 3 years of war from December 1916 to May 1919. This included the long boat trips and time out from duty but displays the Anzac spirit of endurance by enduring 3 years of active service.
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