Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

CORPORAL THOMAS “TOM” AMBROSE JOSEPH COMMANE

SERVICE No: V11239

Born at Georgetown on 1 December 1888, Tom was the son of Matthew and Margaret Commane of Georgetown. Tom married Jane Catherine White at St. Mark’s Church, Port Pirie on 25 June 1910.

After their wedding they owned the Bute Hotel for a year, then the Cleve Hotel from 1913- 1920, before moving to Seaton Park in Adelaide. They eventually purchased a farm at Nadda, near Renmark, but unfortunately huge droughts soon after forced them to walk off the land, losing everything. Thomas and Margaret then settled in Renmark before, in about 1940, moving to Melbourne where Thomas was a hotelkeeper.

At the age of 52 Tom enlisted for Home Service at Royal Park, Melbourne, on 18 February 1941. At this time his sons Raphael and  John de White had already enlisted at Renmark. His 20 year old son Matthew would enlist three months later. Within a few days he was posted to 3 District Accounts as a clerk with the rank of Corporal. For reasons unknown, Tom was discharged on account of a Manpower Request on 18 May 1944. It is possible that the ill health of his sons Raphael and John, who were discharged medically unfit, had prompted this request.

Tom died on 24 July 1962, and is buried in the Williamstown Cemetery