FRASER, Thomas Morrison
| Service Number: | 3511 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 August 1915, Enlisted at Royal Agricultural Showground, Moore Park, Sydney. Allocated to 8th reinforcements. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2 Salvage Depot HQ |
| Born: | Inverness, Scotland , 1881 |
| Home Town: | Paddington, Woollahra, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Prince Henry Hospital, Matraville, NSW, Australia , 15 April 1937, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park, NSW Roman Catholic FM C, Position 257 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 15 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3511, 17th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Royal Agricultural Showground, Moore Park, Sydney. Allocated to 8th reinforcements. | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Dec 1915: | Involvement Private, 3511, 17th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Aeneas embarkation_ship_number: A60 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Dec 1915: | Embarked Private, 3511, 17th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Aeneas, Sydney | |
| 24 Jan 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 2 Salvage Depot HQ, Taken on strength with 2nd Division Salvage Company | |
| 31 Oct 1917: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3511, 2 Salvage Depot HQ, Embarked in England aboard HMAT Berrima for return to Australia, after sustaining accidental injury to right knee on 30/6/1917. | |
| 25 Jun 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 3511, 2 Salvage Depot HQ, Discharged medically unfit in 2nd Military District, Sydney, due to accidental injury to right knee. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS
Thomas Morrison FRASER was born in Inverness, Scotland, in 1881, to parents Hughina (nee MORRISON) and Charles FRASER. He married Hilda Mary BUCK in Dubbo, NSW, Australia in 1913.
A 34 year old married labourer at the time, Thomas enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Victoria Barracks, Paddington, Sydney, on 15th August 1915. He was allocated the regimental number 3511, and assigned as a Private in the 8th reinforcements for the 17th Infantry Battalion. After completing his recruit training at the Royal Agricultural Showground, Moore Park, Thomas embarked in Sydney aboard HMAT Aeneas on 20th December 1915, for active service overseas.
Upon arrival in Egypt on 1st February 1916, Thomas was admitted to the 4th Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Cairo with mumps. Following his discharge, he was taken on strength with the 17th Infantry Battalion in Alexandria on 15th March 1916, with whom he proceeded to France two days later. On 10th August 1916, Thomas was admitted to hospital in France with systemic sclerosis. He rejoined his Unit in Belgium on 21st September. On 17th December 1916, Thomas was admitted to the 16th General Hospital in Le Treport, France, where he spent 4 days for an unspecified illness. He rejoined the 17th Battalion in France on 23rd January 1917, and the following day he was transferred.
On 24th January 1917, Thomas was taken on strength with the 2nd Division Salvage Company. On 22nd February, he was admitted to hospital with diarrhoea and fever, returning to his Unit on 4th March. Thomas later sustained an accidental injury to his right knee while undertaking salvage work in the field in France, on 30th June 1917. After initially being hospitalised in France, he was evacuated to England, where he was admitted to the 2nd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Southall.
After two months in hospital, Thomas was discharged and sent to the 2nd Convalescent Depot in Weymouth, England, on 11th October 1917. As the extent of the knee injury and resulting synovitis prevented him from returning to active service, Thomas embarked in England aboard HMAT Berrima on 31st October 1917, for return to Australia. He was subsequently discharged in Sydney as being medically unfit, on 25th June 1918.
Thomas was later awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service. He was also issued the Discharged Returned Soldier's badge (number 44152) and the *Silver War Badge (number A16474 ). For his service, wife Hilda received the Female Relative's Badge (number 170073).
On 3rd May 1919, Thomas and his wife had a daughter, Edna Mary, while living in Paddington, Sydney. Thomas died in Prince Henry Hospital Matraville on 15th April 1937, aged 56, and is buried in the Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park, Matraville, Sydney.
*Silver War Badge (2nd Military District, NSW) Register of Issues Book 1, page 461/2 shows the reason for discharge for this soldier as "GSW head" ( GSW = gunshot or general shrapnel wound). However, there is no such record in his Service Dossier of him ever being wounded in action (or a copy of any notification to next of kin about such). His only recorded hospital admissions were for illness, and the accidental injury to his right knee during salvage work on 30th June 1917, which resulted in synovitis, the latter being clearly indicated as being the reason for his having been discharged medically unfit.
Compiled by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS from historical records kept by the National Archives of Australia, Births, Deaths and Marriages NSW, the Ryerson Index, and Find A Grave website.
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