Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Thomas Patrick O’Grady was born on the 5th of November 1902, in Rosewater, Port Adelaide, South Australia. (NAA attestation form, 20th May 1940), to father Edward O’Grady (Ancestry.com) and mother Katie Grove (Ancestry.com).  Thomas was a fettler, prior to joining the war. (NAA attestation form, 20th May 1940). Thomas lived at 25 Lincoln Street, in Rosewater, Port Adelaide. (NAA attestation form 20th May 1940.) Thomas was a Roman Catholic and was an only child. (Ancestry.com and NAA attestation form). It is shown on Thomas O’Grady’s attestation form that he was single when he signed up, however, he was married during his service, less than a month later, to Helen Ann O’Grady. (NAA attestation form, 20th May 1940.)  (See figure 2)

Thomas O’Grady signed up for the war on the 20th of May 1940. (NAA attestation form, 20th May 1940.)He mostly served with the 2nd/8th Field Ambulance, a group in which he would have had to perform first aid and save lives. (VWMA.org.au.) He would have also had to take casualties off the battlefield and take them to the nearest field hospital.

Thomas O’Grady left Australia for Palestine in November 1940. He disembarked 17th December 1940 and detached to duty at the headquarters of the 9th Australian Division. He completed Special Duty as a Batman working as an orderly for a Commissioned Officer 4th October - 14th October in the 2/7th Field Regiment. O'Grady remained with the 2/7th until he was transferred to the 2/8 Field Ambulance 6th July 1942. Thomas would find himself handling several casualties and administering first aid. (VWMA.org.au) As the German forces advanced, Thomas, and the rest of the 2nd/8th field ambulance, were pushed all the way back to Tobruk, where they had to endure the siege. (VWMA.org.au) 

Thomas, and the other members of the 2nd/8th were moved to the military base of Camp Hill 69, Palestine, in December of 1941, whereas their allied groups had all been taken back to Australia by ship.

Due to the outbreak of the Pacific War, Thomas and his group returned to Australia in September of 1943. (VWMA.org.au) During this time, the 2nd/8th, and Thomas, underwent mandatory training in Queensland witht eh 2/2 Australian General Hospital. (VWMA.org.au). 

Thomas was sent from Australia to Milne Bay 26th July 1943. The journey took 4 days. He remained there until 10th February 1944 when he was sent back to Australia. He served the remainder of the war in Queensland

Thomas O’Grady was discharged from the army after this posting, on January 19th, 1945. The reason behind his discharge, was stated on his discharge form as “cannot be suitably posted.” (VWMA.org.au)

After returning to Australia, Thomas O’Grady went back to his home at 25, Lincoln Street, Rosewater, Port Adelaide, where he lived for the entire remainder of his life with his wife Helen. He got a job as a labourer. (1943-1950 south Australian electoral roll.) Thomas O’Grady passed away on the 8th of September 1968, at 66 years old. He is buried at Centennial Park Cemetery. (Ancestry.com) Helen Ann O’Grady died on the 8th of June 1979, and is buried in Enfield Memorial Park.