1993
TAMMS, Arnold Leopold
| Service Number: | 553 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 September 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 12th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Port Pirie, South Australia, 28 April 1895 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Port Pirie Hospital, South Australia , 30 June 1951, aged 56 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Port Pirie General Cemetery, South Australia PRE, lot 52, grave 2 |
| Memorials: | Port Pirie Fathers of Sailors and Soldiers Association Port Pirie District Roll of Honor WW1 |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, 553, 12th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 553, 12th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Hobart embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 553, 12th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Hobart | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Lieutenant, 553, 12th Infantry Battalion | |
| 9 Apr 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, 553, 12th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Paul Lemar
Arnold Leopold TAMMS was born at Port Pirie on 28.04.1895 to William George Wilhelm Georg Ludwig Adolp – 1855-1926) and Isabella Clara TAMMS (nee DOUBTFIRE-1868-1955).
Arnold Leopold TAMMS joined the AIF ON 05.09.1914 and was given service number 553. He was attached to the 12th Infantry Brigade and embarked from Melbourne on 17.09.1914.
He saw active service at Gallipoli and suffered a number of illnesses including influenza whereby he was evacuated to Mudros. He was then transported to England.
On 15.07.1916, he rejoined the unit in France but continued to suffer a number of illnesses that required hospitalisation. In 1918, he again suffered influenza and an injury to his knee again requiring hospitalisation. On 26.06.1918, he was evacuated to England because of his knee injury.
He had a number of military offences recorded for which he did face a court martial and received field punishment and some loss of pay.
The 3rd Brigade was the covering force for the ANZAC landing on 25 April 1915 and so was the first ashore at around 4:30 am. Lieutenant Colonel L. F. Clarke, commander of the 12th Battalion, was killed by a sniper within hours of the landing. The battalion was heavily involved in establishing and defending the front line of the ANZAC position, and in August contributed two companies to the attack on Lone Pine. It was the only battalion in the brigade to do so. The 12th served at ANZAC until the evacuation in December.
After the withdrawal from Gallipoli, the 12th Battalion returned to Egypt and, in March 1916, sailed for France and the Western Front. From then until 1918 the battalion took part in bitter trench warfare. The battalion's first major action in France was at Pozieres in the Somme valley in July 1916. After Pozieres, the battalion fought at Ypres in Flanders and then returned to the Somme for winter.
In 1917 the battalion took part in the brief advance that followed the German Army's retreat to the Hindenburg Line. For their valorous actions near Boursies during this advance, Captain J. E. 'Jim' Newland, commanding A Company, and Sergeant J. W. Whittle were each awarded the Victoria Cross. The battalion subsequently returned to Belgium to participate in the offensive that became known as the Third Battle of Ypres.
In March and April,1918 the battalion helped to stop the German spring offensive, and later participated in the great allied offensive of 1918, fighting near Amiens on 8 August 1918.