HUTCHINSON, Thomas Cerne
| Service Numbers: | 154847, Q3295, QX40906 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 31 July 1942 |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | 61 Infantry Battalion AMF |
| Born: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 12 January 1910 |
| Home Town: | Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | St Laurence's College, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | Engineering Draughtsman |
| Died: | Natural causes, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 28 September 2000, aged 90 years |
| Cemetery: |
Mount Gravatt Cemetery & Crematorium, Brisbane Part: Anzac - Portion: 3 - Grave: 994 |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Captain, 154847, also QX40906 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Feb 1941: | Involvement Captain, Q3295, also QX40906 & 154847 | |
| 31 Jul 1942: | Involvement Captain, QX40906, also Q3295 & 154847 | |
| 31 Jul 1942: | Enlisted 154847, 61 Infantry Battalion AMF | |
| 21 Feb 1945: | Honoured Military Cross, Bougainville, On 21 Feb 45, in the Mosigetta area of Bougainville, Capt Hutchinsn was given the task of encircling the enemy with his Coy and eventually clearing them from the Pikei-Mosigetta Road. The advance was hotly challenged by an enemy very numerous and well dug in and who attempted infiltration. However, Capt Hutchinson formed a sound plan and cleverly deployed his Coy and hit the enemy hard to eventually gain a posn astride the Mosigetta-Pikei Road. Shortly after dawn the next day, the enemy launched a heavy counter attack which was repulsed and Capt Hutchinson immediately sent out aggressive patrols following up the enemy and completely dislodging him from defensive positions and forcing him to abandon the area. Throughout the whole action, Capt Hutchinson was an inspiration to his troops. His coolness, courage and cheerfulness acted as a tonic to his tired men. He was always well forward where fighting was heaviest and was thus able to manoeuvre his Coy to the fullest advantage. It was mainly due to his sound planning and his aggressive action and leadership that the enemy was forced to abandon their strong defences in the MOSIGETTA area. His personal bravery was a household word throughout the company. | |
| 3 Jan 1946: | Discharged 154847, 61 Infantry Battalion AMF |
Help us honour Thomas Cerne Hutchinson's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Terry Hutchinson
Thomas (Ted) Hutchinson was the eldest of nine children, eight boys and a girl. Their mother Kate was given a brooch with stars on a bar signifying her sons who served in the forces. Terence Joseph did not return to his family.
Ted undertook compulsory military training and then in 1928 enlisted in the Australian Military Force. He served in a part-time capacity in the Light Horse Regiment rising to the rank of Sergeant. Ted was a keen rower and took part in competitions as part of the Commercial Rowing Club. He enjoyed flying and also gained a pilot's licence. He married Mavis in 1932 and when the war began, Ted already had a young family.
In 1938, he enlisted in the Citizens Military Force as part of the Australian Light Horse Regiment. In 1941, he was promoted to Lieutenant and transferred to full time duty in the 2nd Australian Recognisance Battalion. The next year he joined the Australian Infantry Force and was promoted to temporary Captain in the 2nd Australian Cavalry Regiment by 1943.
At the end of that year, with the rank of Captain, he joined the 61st Australian Infantry Battalion and then participated in the 7th Brigade advance in southern Bougainville. From November 1944, the 61st were in continuous action for five months and Ted was in charge of 'C' Company (about 100 men) during this time. He received a Military Cross for his actions on the 21st February 1945 in the Mosigetta area.
The 61st Battalion took part in the surrender ceremony at Torokina, and eventually returned to Cairns on the Westralia on the 19th November 1945. The unit was disbanded on 8 January 1946 and Ted transferred to the Reserves. He reenlisted as a Captain in the CMF in 1951 and retired in 1959 with the rank of Major. He was awarded the Efficiency Decoration in 1961.
Ted worked in the Brisbane City Council as an engineering draughtsman and later Chief Draughtsman during the time when Clem Jones was mayor. He was based in offices in the City Hall during the 1974 floods organising drainage plans for the parts of the city badly affected.
After the war, Ted and Mavis took up a perpetual lease on Bribie Island as a 'weekender'. The family, including their five daughters, holidayed there in a large army tent and Ted eventually sunk a bore and built a fibro shack with the help of family and the Bribie Island Surf Lifesaving Club. This was the era of corrugated roads, the Bribie barge, at least three abandoned gun emplacements and a large black Dodge with running boards.There is still a street in Woorim called Hutchinson Street named after the family.
References
Ian McDonald, Lauries Inspirations, Vol 2. Brisbane: St Laurence's College, 2013. pps 7-11
Ron H Mortensen, History of the Australian Infantry Brigade 1940-1945 Milne Bay to Bougainville, 2013. pps 202, 232, 270-272, 497
James Watt, The 61st Battalion 1938-1945 The Queensland Cameron Highlanders' War. Loftus: Australian Military History Publications, 2001. pps 163, 190 (ref to Hutchhaven), 208, 247, 254, 256
Click images to start slideshow.