MURRIN, Thomas John
| Service Number: | 2415 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 22 March 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 50th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Moonta, South Australia, Australia, 20 April 1882 |
| Home Town: | Yelta, Mildura Shire, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 2 April 1917, aged 34 years |
| Cemetery: |
Noreuil Australian Cemetery, Picardie Special Memorial B 30. |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Broken Hill South Mine Roll of Honour, Moonta All Saint's Anglican Church Memorial Honour Roll, Moonta Corporation of The Town of Moonta Roll of Honour, Moonta War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 22 Mar 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2415, 10th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Jun 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2415, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Kanowna, Adelaide | |
| 16 Aug 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2415, 50th Infantry Battalion, Mouquet Farm, Buried alive by shellfire rescued and evacuated with Shell Shock | |
| 20 Mar 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2415, 50th Infantry Battalion, The Outpost Villages - German Withdrawal to Hindenburg Line | |
| 2 Apr 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2415, 50th Infantry Battalion, Noreuil, Killed in Action-- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2415 awm_unit: 50 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1917-04-02 |
Help us honour Thomas John Murrin's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by St Francis de Sales College
Standing at 5 foot 7 and three quarters, a complexion of brown, with hair and eyes to match, from that day onwards he would not be known as Thomas John Murrin. But rather, by his regimental number, 2415, or by his comrades, Private Thomas J Murrin. Before serving his country he led a simple life, although one that was written about in the Port Pirie Recorder and North Western Mail (on 24th December 1908), he was entangled within a case of drunkeness and assault of a police officer, at one point he was even fined for drunkenness. However he did like to indulge, he had a modest job as a miner in Moonta, where he provided for his wife Sylvia Kate Murrin.
Born to English immigrants, it is assumed Thomas had a son named Willie (born the same year as Thomas’ marriage, and passing away at birth on January 26th 1908), buried in the Moonta cemetery (along with Sylvia).
His need for thrill was yet again repeated, on the 2nd March 1915 he was made to forfeit 1 days pay for disobedience (including not attending the parade). During his time with the AIF he was admitted to hospital with shell shock receiving medical treatment at various locations from 16th August 1916 when he was wounded in action, up until the 21st of August 1916.
Boarding the HMAT A61 Kanowa on 23rd June 1915, he began his journey in Egypt, then was taken on strength at Gallipoli (17th September 1915), returning to Alexandrina within three months. He remained in Egypt until the 5th of August 1916, when he left for France.
Apart from being given a short leave of absence in September of 1916 he stayed strong before being transferred back to France on the the 24th of January 1917, being killed less than three months later on the 2nd of April 1917.
The news was broken to his remaining family and friends back home in South Australia soon after. Being born in 1882 (estimated April 20th) and passing on April 2nd 1917, he was 35, his death being announced to the public on April 27th. He is at peace in Noreuil Australian cemetery in France.
Click images to start slideshow.