Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Thomas, born on the 18th June 1906, was the fourth son of Mr J Seeby who lived in the market town of Ware in Hertfordshire England. Thomas, known as Tom, was one of the many young boys who came to South Australia under the Barwell Boys Scheme, established by the S.A. Premier, Sir Henry Barwell in 1922. The scheme was designed to help with the labour shortage in the State, following the huge loss of 6,000 men during WWI. (Back in England, there was high unemployment, which the scheme was also designed to assist.) Tom arrived as a sixteen-year-old in 1923 on the ship, Ballarat, one of seventy-eight boys.
Their arrival in December was announced in the Port Adelaide News ‘The boys were all of fine physique and general appearance, and the officer in charge (Mr Alexander) stated they had been very well behaved on the boat. Mr. Victor H. Ryan was present to receive them and escorted them to the Immigration Depot at Kintore Avenue, where refreshments were awaiting them. All the boys have been applied for. Forty-six were sent away on Monday morning to all parts of the State, over twenty on Tuesday, and the remainder by connecting boats and trains.’
Within two days each ‘boy’ signed an apprenticeship agreement, regarding living condition and wages, and was assigned to a farmer for three years. The ‘Boys’ faced many challenges including weather related, homesickness and the heavy demands of farm working.
Tom worked near Bagster on the West Coast where he quickly became part of the community and church life. He played a reasonable game of cricket for Watraba. In a unique event in September ‘33, he played for ‘England’ against an ‘Australian’ team with the latter winning by a slim six runs.
As did many of the Barwell ‘Boys’ Tom met a local young woman and announced his engagement to Orroroo-born Blanche Maude Shillabeer on the 28th November ’27. (Blanche, a farmer’s daughter had previously been part of the fundraising for the Penong Memorial Hospital as the Queen of Wheat, a competition which raised £55.) The young couple initially lived in Streaky Bay, where they later welcomed their son, John. He attended the local Charra Plains School where from an early age proved to be a capable student in the weekly yests.
Employment conditions in Renmark were erratic, with John finding some employment as a farm labourer, however this was sporadic as Post WWI Australia was in the grip of a Depression, with many fit, healthy young men, like Tom unable to gain regular employment. He joined the Militia, serving in the 48th Battalion.
However, with the outbreak of WWII, 33-year-old Tom first enlisted on the 27th November ’39, (and naming Wormley as his hometown.) He was allocated the number SX1140 and placed in the 2/10th Battalion. His previous experience in the Militia contributed to his promotion the following week to Temp Lance Corporal, but within a fortnight he reverted to the rank of Private and was on his way to Adelaide for intensive training.
Having contracted tonsilitis, he then committed the crime of presenting unshaven on parade and was admonished. Pre-embarkation leave followed in February but in April, Tom was discharged as being medically unfit on the 15th April ’40, having served for slightly more than four months.
Undeterred Tom again enlisted in his local town of Renmark after his 34th birthday in June, making no mention of his previous service. He was immediately placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion with a new number, SX8248. A huge number of 300 men from the Upper Murray had already responded to the call for recruits with each being named and grouped under their respective districts with Tom being listed under the Renmark group.
Following pre-embarkation leave, he soon boarded the Stratheden on the 7th November, arriving in the Middle East on the 17th December, after a brief stint in the ship’s hospital. The transition from the comparatively tranquil setting of the Riverland to the dust, flies, heat and constant bombardment, was challenging as Tom had recurring health problems. He was also to earn the unofficial title of being a Rat of Tobruk because of the primitive conditions the soldiers were living in. Intended as a derogatory term by the Germans to demoralise the troops, to encourage them to surrender, it had the opposite effect and became one of pride. However, the constant bombardment, loss of fellow soldiers and challenging food offerings all contributed to Tom’s poor physical and mental health, plus a recurrence of tonsilitis.
During December ’40 the local Murray Pioneer included an article honouring the River Soldiers in the lead up to Christmas. An announcement had just been made that ‘A.I.F. troops, no doubt including River boys, are now participating in the terrific battle on the Lybian border, the thoughts of those who have gone from our midst to defend that tremendous issue which is at stake, are given added significance.’ An extensive list, including Tom’s name, followed.

Technically by August ’41 Tom was fit to return to his battalion, but several bouts of colic marked the following months as the war raged in Tobruk. Over ’42 Tom developed cysts and arthritis in his knees, a growth in his right eye and a kidney disease. It was a relief when the battalion finally returned to Australia via Melbourne in February ’43. More detailed investigations were able to be carried out on Tom’s health, but it became obvious that Tom would be unable to carry out the intense physical demands of being a foot soldier, so was deemed to be medically restricted.
However, at the Renmark Institute, the Soldiers Social Committee organised a social for their soldiers home on leave. Both the Mayor and RSL President attended to welcome the young men, including Tom. Others, like Sgt Harry Lock from the same battalion, took the opportunity to marry.
Eventually Tom was granted leave without pay for seasonal work, but by April ’44 he took matters into his own hands and took a week of absence – for which he was fined eight day’s pay. With little understanding at the time of PTSD, Tom’s condition was reassessed in June, leading to his eventual discharge on the 26th.
With peace declared, those who had survived were welcomed home with a huge function at Renmark in May ’46. Each was honoured and named in the Murray Pioneer, with Tom being amongst the extensive list. Over four years later, in December ’50, a much smaller list announced the men who would have irrigation blocks. Tom was one of the five selected from Renmark.
Aged 72 Tom died on the 29th March 1979 and was buried in the Renmark Cemetery General Section, S Plot 56. His grave also carries a plaque in recognition of his service in the 2/48th Battalion.
Blanche lived to be 95 and died on the 4th June 2000. She now rests with Tom.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.