Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Thomas Edward Fardell was born 11 June 1882 at Lewis Ponds, Molong near Orange NSW (home of his uncle George) , son of Mary Ann Fardell and unknown father. He was the second child of Mary Ann Fardell. Thomas was raised initially by his Uncle George Fardell and then by other siblings of his mother.

Thomas enlisted, at age 21 years 7 months, on 21 Jan 1902 in Sydney. Age 21 years 7 months Described as 5’6 ½” tall with grey eyes, light brown hair and fair complexion. Occupation: Butcher.

Served in the Boer War as Trooper # 105 1st Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse (NSW) and embarked 18 Feb 1902 on the “Custodian” from Sydney NSW and disembarked on 19 Mar, 1902 at Durban, South Africa. Spending only four months in South Africa Trooper T.E. Fardell, along with 2,043 troops aboard, embarked on the “Drayton Grange” on 11 July 1902 Durban disembarking on Aug 1902 Sydney NSW.

“Four thousand troops leaving Australia after Federation saw no fighting but patrolled the concentration camps established by Lord Kitchener to hold Boer women and children. The Treaty of Vereeniging ending the war was signed on 31 May 1902 and Kitchener sailed soon after for Southampton. Troopers equally keen to leave heard rumours that SS Drayton Grange was the last ship bound for Australia and they swarmed her. Those without uniforms borrowed them to embark, others became stowaways.”

“The bulk of the contingents began to return to Australia by ship between July and August 1902. Misfortune followed them however, and when the SS Drayton Grange arrived in Melbourne on 7 Aug with 2,043 troops aboard, five men were already dead from measles and influenza, while another 12 died within weeks. Neglect and unsanitary living conditions aboard the vessel were found to be to blame for the deaths, following a Royal Commission into the matter”.
In 1903-4 Thomas Edward lived at East Orange and was a Carter - contractor to the Orange Council. In 1910 Thomas worked as a grocer in his uncle Tom’s general store at East Orange (father of Edwin Hercules Fardell died of wounds WW1).
Thomas married Kathleen Bridget Egan in 1911. By 1933 he was working as a Railway Ganger and his obit says he was employed in the Signals Branch of the Railways for 38 years. Thomas and enjoyed gardening noted for his “green thumb”. He died 1 Sep 1949 at Sandgate, NSW and was buried in the Wesleyan Newcastle Cemetery and was survived by his wife Kate and two sons and four daughters - Reginald Thomas Bede, Marjorie Rene, Olga Kathleen, Marie Mona, Joan Phyllis, Noel Edgar Fardell (who served with the Air Force in WW2).