THOMAS, Jack Hilton
| Service Numbers: | S24167, SX12438 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 6 March 1941, Port Augusta, SA |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Pt Augusta, SA, 8 January 1917 |
| Home Town: | Port Augusta, Port Augusta, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Wharf labourer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Buna-Gona, Papua New Guinea, 26 December 1942, aged 25 years |
| Cemetery: |
Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea |
| Memorials: | Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Soldiers' Memorial Band Rotunda |
World War 2 Service
| 6 Mar 1941: | Involvement S24167 | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Mar 1941: | Enlisted Port Augusta, SA | |
| 6 Mar 1941: | Enlisted S24167 | |
| 29 Apr 1941: | Enlisted Private, SX12438, Wayville, South Australia |
Service History
SX12438 Private Jack Hilton Thomas, a Nukunu man from Port Augusta, was killed in action during the Battle of Buna-Gona.
Jack was born on 8 January 1917 at Port Augusta and was the son of Alexander and Johanna nee Stewart. His mother Johanna was a Nukunu woman. Jack had four brothers and three sisters. He worked as a labourer prior to enlisting for World War II.
Jack enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force at Wayville on 29 April 1941. He was already serving in the part-time Militia’s 43rd Battalion at the time of his enlistment in the AIF. During initial training at the 3rd Training Battalion he was allocated as a reinforcement for the 2/43rd Battalion, but this was soon changed to the 2/10th Battalion in May. He travelled by train to Sydney and embarked for overseas service on 29 June. He arrived in the Middle East on 25 July and was initially posted to the 18th Infantry Training Battalion. He completed his training and was taken on strength of the 2/10th Battalion on 25 January 1942. At the time, the 2/10th was in Palestine preparing to return to Australia.
The battalion embarked on the Dutch passenger ship "Nieuw Amsterdam" in early February, and after transhipping to the transport "Nevassa" at Bombay, they arrived in Adelaide in late March. The battalion was re-organised and underwent training near Kilcoy in Queensland preparing for service in New Guinea. On 5 August, the battalion embarked on the Dutch transport "Both" in Brisbane. A week later, Jack and the rest of the battalion disembarked at Milne Bay in Papua as part of a force sent to reinforce the Militia units defending the area. A fortnight later, a Japanese force landed in the area aiming to capture the Allied airfields at Milne Bay. In the ensuing Battle of Milne Bay, the battalion fought hard at KB Mission, suffering 43 killed and 26 wounded. The battle was a significant victory for the Australian force, the first major battle of the war in the Pacific in which Allied troops decisively defeated Japanese land forces.
In October, the battalion was flown to Wanigela on the north Papuan coast where they carried out patrols and defended the area against a potential Japanese landing. They also assisted in the construction of an airfield. In late December, the battalion was transported by sea to Cape Endaiadere and joined the Battle of Buna-Gona. The 2/10th was committed to fighting around the disused Buna airstrip which was defended by Japanese bunkers. Over a fortnight of intense fighting, the unit suffered over 300 casualties, 112 of whom were killed. One of these was Jack, who was killed on 26 December, along with 29 other members of his battalion.
Jack was initially buried in the Buna area, but was subsequently re-interred in the Cape Endaiadere War Cemetery in July 1943, and in May 1944 he was re-interred in the Soputa War Cemetery. Eventually he was re-interred in the Bomana War Cemetery near Port Moresby. For his service in World War II, Jack was entitled to the 1939-1945 Star, the Africa Star, the Pacific Star, the Defence Medal, the War Medal 1939-1945, and the Australian Service Medal 1939-1945. Jack’s brothers Edward, Joseph and Robert all saw active service during World War II.
His name is inscribed on a honour board at the RSL Port Augusta Sub-Branch, and on the path of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander War Memorial at the Torrens Parade Ground, Adelaide, on the Adelaide World War II Wall of Remembrance, and the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour.
Lest we forget.
Ian Smith, Chair Adelaide Anzac Day Committee
Submitted 26 December 2021 by Keith Harrison
Biography contributed by Cornerstone College
Birth: 8th January, 1917
Private Jack Hilton Thomas was an extraordinary individual who achieved great success in the Kokoda Campaign during World War II. Jack Thomas, son of Alexander and Johanna Stewart Nee grew up in regional Port Augusta with his seven siblings. Thomas worked as a wharf labourer prior to enlisting in WWII to support his grieving family. The local indigenous man embellished his Nukunu culture and taught others about their principles. During World War II, Port Augusta was used as a major military base and training centre for the Australian Army. As a result, the town’s population swelled, and wharf labourers like Jack were in high demand. Prior to enlisting in the Second Australian Imperial Force, Jack served in the Militia’s 43rd Battalion. Private Jack was twenty-four when he enlisted to the AIF on the 29th April 1941 at Wayville.
During Jack’s challenging training at the 3rd Training Battalion, he was reallocated as a reinforcement for the 2/43rd Battalion; however, this was rapidly changed to the 2/10th Battalion. The 18th Infantry Training Battalion set a voyage on the RMS Mauretania from Sydney to embark on overseas service in Palestine. The luxurious liner arrived in the Middle East in late July 1941. Scorching and sweltering conditions were witnessed as all soldiers suffered from serve sunburn in the Middle East. However, the arid desert temperatures rapidly changed as the moon was hit high up into the midnight sky. The deadly night sky was illuminated with explosions, but not with twinkling stars.
Private Jack survived the gruelling conditions in the Middle East defending Palestine; however, the Battalion later embarked back to Australia. The Battalion was re-organised and underwent more training near Kilcoy in Queensland, preparing to participate in the Kokoda campaign. Private Jack Hilton Thomas and the rest of the Battalion disembarked at Milne Bay in Papua New Guinea to support the 7th Brigade and the Militia units. Unfortunately, the Japanese landed forces at Milne Bay on the 29th August 1942. The Japanese wanted to secure the airfields that the Allied Powers built. Private Jack’s Battalion and other Allied forces applied successful techniques and tactics. The Battalion preserved and won a significant victory against the Japanese. However, the 2/10th were immediately transported to support the 61st Battalion in taking part in heavy fighting in the KB Mission. The Battalion suffered immensely, 43 murdered and 26 severely wounded. However, the Allied troops decisively defeated the Japanese, and the KB Mission was the first major battle in the Pacific.
The Kokoda Campaign was a horrifying expedition for Jack as the trek was physically, mentally, and spiritually demanding. The tracks Jack and the soldiers walked through were narrow and rugged, and the dense jungle made it challenging to transport wounded soldiers, medical and food supplies, and artillery. The weather conditions were unpredictable, days could have torrential rainfall and other days would have intense heat and humidity. In October, the Battalion was transported to Wanigela. Private Jack and the rest of the soldiers were tasked to defend the beach and carry out patrols against a possible Japanese landing. The Battalion was also providing their service in developing another airfield. This left all the soldiers to experience dehydration and the patrols caused serve tiredness. Many soldiers experienced three main diseases, they were beri-beri, dysentery, and pellagra causing lots of weaknesses across the entire body.
The 2/10th Battalion was transported again by sea in mid-December 1942 during the Battle of Buna-Gona. Jack Hilton arrived just south of Cape Endaiadere, where they used several geographical techniques to travel through the harsh terrain and thick jungle. The 2/10th Battalion fought in the Battle of Buna-Gona for nearly three months. The Japanese defenders were highly motivated and well-entrenched, they had several networks of bunkers and fortifications. Private Jack and all the Allied troops faced significant challenges, including a lack of artillery, adequate supplies, and medical kits. In just a fortnight of fighting the Allied troops suffered over 300 casualties including 112 Australian troops killed in their efforts to dislodge the Japanese. Unfortunately, 29 members of the 2/10th Battalion were killed including Private Jack Hilton Thomas who passed away on the 26th December, 1942. The Japanese were too strong and fiercely determined to hold their positions. eath.
Jack Hilton Thomas was buried in the Buna region; however, he was re-buried in the Cape Endaiadere War Cemetery in July, 1943 and again in the Soputa War Cemetery. Private Jack was finally re-interred in the Bomana War Cemetery near Port Moresby in late 1944. Private Jack Hilton Thomas served Australia for 607 days, fighting in the Middle East and the Pacific during World War II.
The 2/10th Battalion suffered immensely during the battle of Buna-Gona and was withdrawn from the conflict zone, arriving in Cairns on the 12th February 1943.
Lest We Forget
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