GUNNING, Thomas
| Service Number: | 775 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 5th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 775, 5th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Orvieto embarkation_ship_number: A3 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 775, 5th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Orvieto, Melbourne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Aubrey Bairstow
Thomas Gunning was born in Victoria and stated that he was a 35 year old Labourer when he enlisted in August 1915. At the time he confirmed that he had 2 ½ years prior service in the Boer War with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Volunteer Rifles.
His first infraction of military law was being AWOL a month after he enlisted. He embarked in October 1914.
Whilst in Egypt he was deemed to be “services no longer required” and was returned to Melbourne where he was discharged in April 1915. He did suffer gastrointestinal issues in Egypt however his discharge was due to his general demeanour which was reported “mentally weak” He was described as an alcoholic, continually sick and falling out during training, and a poor shot.
Thomas was an honourable and proud solider. He was incensed that his name was published in the newspapers as being discharged due to disciplinary reasons and wrote to the Minister of Defence in April 1915 expressing his unhappiness that his reputation and that of his mother and siblings had been disrespected and that he was receiving unkind remarks from people about his character and discharge. He pointed out that he held the Queens South Africa Medal with 3 clasps and that he had enlisted in April 1914 when the call to enlist was made. The Defence Force had little interest in his letter or reputation so the only option he had was to re-enlist and prove them wrong.
He reenlisted in 46th Battalion in June 1915 and re-embarked in April 1916, arriving in Plymouth via Egypt in June 1916.Whilst in England during 1916 he had numerous incidents of being AWOL including a period where he was declared a deserter. He entered France on 26 January 1917.
Thomas was taken prisoner at Bapaume on 11 April 1917. He was wounded in the same battle. He was posted as missing in action for over a month until a postcard arrived from him advising of his whereabouts – Soltan, Hanover. He was later transferred to Limburg Camp. Tragically his family were not informed until December 1917.
He was repatriated to England in December 1918. After his release he was returned to Australia in June 1919, following a significant number of AWOL charges whilst in England.
His medical examination at discharge stated that there was a scar of his wound below his shoulder. It was reported that he was debilitated, suffered nerve injuries to his arm from his wound, looked much older than his 42 years, suffered from continual headaches, did not sleep well and suffered from bad dreams. During his 2 years imprisonment he was badly fed by the Germans and was also “knocked about” – perhaps as he wore the ribbon of the QSA for service against the Boers, perhaps because was a difficult character. Thomas clearly suffered from some issues which pre-dated his WW1 service – perhaps left over from his service in the Boer War.
Thomas Gunning died in October 1921. His medals were sent to his widow. The file does not record the nature of his death however quite shockingly there was some discussion in his service file as to whether he would be awarded any medals for his service and it seems that in light of his wounding and being taken prisoner that it was agreed that he would be entitled to his medals.