Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Thomas Hinde was born 11 Sep 1892 at Gilston, Queensland, Australia. He was the fourth son of Michael James (James) and Alice (nee Batten) Hinde. The family lived at ‘Colliston’, Gilston, Queensland. His father and mother were early pioneers of the Gilston area. Thomas became a dairy farmer and along with his brother Joseph Hinde, he purchased land at The Pocket Road, Numinbah Valley, Queensland. The farm was situated not far away from the farm (Rosedale) of his sister Emma and her husband Henry Stephens and close to the farm of his uncle Arthur Batten. Tom and Joe worked the farm together and when the Great War broke out Tom and his brother Edward (Ted) Hinde enlisted for active service. Ted’s enlistment number was 6264.

Thomas enlisted for active service in WWI on 13 Mar 1916. His Service No. 6266. Both Thomas and his older brother Edward departed Brisbane, Australia on board the HMAT A46 Clan McGillivray on 7 September 1916. He served in the 9th Battalion, 20th Reinforcement. He suffered from Rheumatism and was hospitalised on a number of occasions after being gassed. Tom died at Wimille, France on 21 Sep 1918 following a gunshot wound to the head. He is buried in the British War Cemetery (Plot V, Section A, Grave No 21) at Terlincthun, Wimille, France. Tom's name is on the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Tom was posthumously issued with three medals: 1914/1918 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. A Memorial Scroll “Where the Australians Rest” was issued to his father Michael James Hinde along with a photograph of his grave and the original wooden Commemorative Cross, which was placed on his grave. A Memorial Plaque was also issued to his father and was receipted 30 Oct 1933. It is not known which descendant of the Hinde family has possession of Tom’s medals.

The 3rd Infantry Brigade, sometimes known as the "All-Australian Brigade", comprised 9th Battalion raised in Queensland, 10th Battalion raised in South Australia, 11th Battalion raised in Western Australia and the 12th Battalion - one half of which was made up of Tasmanians, whilst the other half was made up of Western Australians and South Australians.

The 3^rd Brigade was part of the 1^st Division Unit AIF. The unit suffered 35 casualties.  A narrative of the Battle from midnight on 17 September 1918 to 5 pm on 18 September 1918 is available online from Australian War Memorial. It forms part of the diary of the Commanding Officer of the 1^st Div.

Word came through at 4 pm 21 September 1918 (the day Tom died) that the 9th Battalion were to be relieved by the 11th Battalion and relief was completed by 9.20 pm.  The 9th Battalion took no further part in WWI as they were then rested until the Armistice was signed on 11 November 1918. Some members of the 9^th Battalion were sent home to Australia.

Their Division (1st Division, which included the 9th Battalion) was engaged in battle near the village of Villeret in France on the Hindenberg Line.  A google search reveals that Villeret is located near Hargicourt, France.  Hargicourt is about 16 klms n.w. of St Quentin.  It was occupied by British troops in Apr 1917 and was lost on 21 Mar 1918.  Hargicourt was recaptured on 18 September 1918 by Australian troops (Battle of Hargicourt).  The village of Villeret was also recaptured in the fighting.

A page from Thomas Hinde’s service record relates to the months of June through to September 1918.  It shows his movements from his last battle through to the 55th General Hospital at Boulogne.  When he was wounded on 18th September he was attended by the 1st AFA (Aust. Field Ambulance).  From research this unit (AFA) normally comprised of privates etc. attached to the medical unit and casualties were stretchered off to a safe area to ascertain extent of injuries.  The AFA was attached to each Division but were situated about 1500 to 2000 yards behind the line of fire.  He was then sent to the 55th CCS (Casualty Clearing Station).  This was possibly was situated in the village of Tincourt.  He would have been either taken there by mule and ambulance wagon or on a stretcher-bearing sidecar attached to a motorbike.  From there he was admitted to the AT (Ambulance Train).  Ambulance trains operated throughout France during WWI and took the seriously wounded from the casualty clearing stations to the General Hospitals.  The general hospitals were always located well away from the frontline and near the coast so that if necessary the injured could be placed on a ship bound for England.  The 55th General Hospital (Boulogne) was located at Wimereux which is just north west of Boulogne-Ser-Mer itself.  Thomas Hinde died here from his wounds (Gun Shot Wound to Head and Compound Fracture of the Skull).  He was buried the same day at Terlincthun British War Cemetery, Terlincthun, just north of Boulogne-Ser-Mer and west of Wimereux. Thomas was given a Military funeral.

Death: 21 Sep 1918, age 26 years at 55^th Australian General Army Hospital, Wimereux, Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France

Thomas died at 10.35 pm on 21 Sep 1918 from a gunshot wound to the head and compound fracture of the skull. He was wounded 18 Sep 1918 and admitted to 55th Gen. Hospital, Wimereux, France. His battalion fought its last battle in WWI the day he died.

Burial: 22 Se[ 1918 at Terlincthun, Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France. Thomas was buried at Terlincthun British War Cemetery, Plot V, Section A, Grave 21. He was given a Military Funeral.

Avenue of Commemorative Trees, Latimers Crossing

After World War I, the planting of memorial trees was a common way for families to create a lasting personal memorial to their lost loved ones.

The avenue of Hoop and Bunya pines at Latimers Crossing was planted in honour of Thomas Hinde. Thomas Hinde was a 23 year old farmer from Gilston. He enlisted for service abroad with the Australian Imperial Force in March 1916 and was despatched overseas.

Private Hinde served for two years in Belgium and France. In September 1918, Private Hinde was wounded in action and admitted to the 55th General Hospital in Boulogne. He died of his wounds within days of arriving at the hospital.

Around 1920, Thomas’ brother Joseph Hinde brought 15 Hoop pines and one Bunya pine from Numinbah Valley and planted the avenue of trees along Latimers Crossing Road in memory of his brother.