S71687
BLAND, Thomas
| Service Number: | 1909 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 January 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 50th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Stockton, Durham, England, 10 November 1894 |
| Home Town: | Prospect (SA), Prospect, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | 8 November 1964, aged 69 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia Derrick Gardens Path 30 Grave 958 |
| Memorials: | Prospect Roll of Honour A-G WWI Board |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Jan 1915: | Enlisted | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Apr 1915: | Embarked Private, 1909, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Adelaide | |
| 20 Apr 1915: | Involvement Private, 1909, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
| 2 Apr 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1909, 50th Infantry Battalion, On the morning of April 2nd, 1917 in a gully outside Noreuil, Bland and Lance Corporal Foster (SN 1138) were in the said Gully when a Shell landed in the gully, which killed Foster straight away. | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Private, 1909, 50th Infantry Battalion |
World War 2 Service
| 5 Apr 1942: | Enlisted Adelaide, SA |
|---|
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Son of Thomas and Elizabeth BLAND
Biography contributed by Modbury High School
Thomas Bland was born on November 10th, 1894, in Prospect, South Australia. He grew up during a time of rapid change and chose to work as a laborer before enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in January 1915, at the age of 20.
Assigned to the 50th Infantry Battalion, Thomas trained for war. The battalion was formed overseas in Egypt.
During his service, Thomas faced tough conditions in the desert, including extreme heat and disease. It took lots of dedication as a Private.
Thomas experienced military discipline firsthand when he received 14 days' detention for leaving camp without permission. Despite such challenges, he remained committed to his duties.
Like many soldiers, Thomas suffered from illness during his service, reflecting the hardships of war. After World War I ended in 1918, he returned to civilian life in South Australia.
Thomas passed away on November 8th, 1964, and was laid to rest in Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia. His grave in Derrick Gardens, Path 30, Grave 958, serves as a reminder of his service.
Thomas Bland's story exemplifies the bravery and sacrifice of Australians who served during World War I. His legacy lives on, honoring those who faced extraordinary challenges in defense of their country.
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