PITMAN, Talbert Lawrence
| Service Number: | 10794 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 December 1915, Goulburn, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 44th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Norwood, South Australia , 7 August 1891 |
| Home Town: | Norwood (SA), South Australia |
| Schooling: | Adelaide High School, Rose Park Public School, Norwood Primary School |
| Occupation: | Engineer |
| Died: | Killed In Action, Belgium, 5 October 1917, aged 26 years |
| Cemetery: |
Passchendaele, New British Cemetery Plot XIII, Row C, Grave 11. |
| Memorials: | Adelaide High School Great War Honour Board, Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Kent Town Wesleyan Methodist Church WW1 Honour Roll, Mosman Methodist Church Great War Roll of Honour, Norwood Primary School Honour Board, Norwood War Memorial, Rose Park Congregational Church Great War Roll of Honour, Rose Park Public School WW1 Honour Board, Sydney NSW Post Master General's Department Honour Roll, Tusmore Burnside District Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Dec 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 10794, 3rd Divisional Signal Company, Goulburn, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 May 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 10794, 3rd Divisional Signal Company, HMAT Ascanius, Melbourne | |
| 25 May 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 10794, 3rd Divisional Signal Company, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '6' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
| 1 Apr 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 44th Infantry Battalion | |
| 24 Apr 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 44th Infantry Battalion | |
| 7 Jun 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 44th Infantry Battalion, Battle of Messines | |
| 28 Aug 1917: | Honoured Military Cross, Third Ypres, Second Lieutenant | |
| 21 Sep 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 44th Infantry Battalion | |
| 5 Oct 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 10794, 44th Infantry Battalion, Broodseinde Ridge |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Adelaide High School
Lieutenant Talbert Lawrence Pitman (spelt as Tolbert in some records) was born in Norwood, Adelaide, on the 7th of August 1891, to parents Talbert Goss Pitman and Eliza Emma Pitman (nee Lawrence). He was often referred to as Bert. His service record states that he had black hair and hazel eyes and was a Methodist. Talbert had two younger brothers, Alfred Keith Pitman and Thomas Ralph Pitman, and two younger sisters, Verna May Pitman and Florence Mary Pitman. The family lived at 50 Charles Street, Norwood. Alfred also served in World War 1 and was part of the 11th Field Ambulance.
Talbert was educated at Norwood Primary School, Rose Park Public School and Adelaide High School. At 16 years of age, he passed exams to qualify as an assistant electrical engineer for the Federal Public Service. These exams tested knowledge in areas such as line construction, telephone equipment and electrical circuit testing. Talbert was promoted rapidly in this field during his eight years of work in Adelaide, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and rural parts of New South Wales.
On the 20th of December 1915, in Goulburn, NSW, Talbert enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force. He was 24 years old. Talbert was appointed to the 3rd Division Signalling Company as a Private and was sent to Mitcham Camp (on the site of present day Colonel Light Gardens, South Australia) to attend Signal School. His unit departed from Melbourne on the 25th of May 1916 aboard the HMAT A11 Ascanius. They arrived in England just under two months later, and proceeded to France, where Talbert served as a sapper and signaller. His signalling unit would have been responsible for laying telephone wires and maintaining communication on the battlefield.
Just after Christmas 1916, Talbert was hospitalised with influenza but was soon discharged to rejoin his unit. A few months later, he was transferred to the 44th Battalion. After undergoing two weeks of training in the 2nd ANZAC Corps School, he was appointed 2nd Lieutenant and Battalion Signalling Officer.
Talbert was involved in the Battle of Messines in June 1917, and on the 28th of August 1917 was awarded the Military Cross for his remarkable efforts in this successful campaign. According to a short statement published in both the London and Commonwealth of Australia Gazettes, the Cross was awarded “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.” The report also stated that “As Battalion Signalling Officer he displayed the utmost courage and perseverance in maintaining communication under circumstances of the greatest difficulty, although his lines were constantly severed, and his station destroyed by shell-fire. He materially aided his battalion in a successful operation against the enemy.” Talbert was later promoted to Lieutenant.
Lieutenant Talbert Lawrence Pitman was killed in action on the 5th of October 1917 in Passchendaele, Belgium at 26 years of age (although some sources stated that he died on the 4th). Witnesses recount that Talbert died instantly after being hit by a shell in the field. His fellow signallers buried him, marking the grave with a rough cross which bore his name, rank and unit. Talbert’s belongings, including clothing, books, letters, photos, a wallet, a pocket chessboard, diaries and other items were mailed to his father. His father was also presented with Talbert’s Military Cross in a ceremony after his death.
Talbert’s final resting place is in the Passchendaele New British Cemetery, Belgium. A cenotaph was erected in honour of Talbert in the West Terrace Cemetery, in his home town of Adelaide. Talbert's name is listed on the Adelaide High School Honour Board alongside the name of his brother, Alfred, who survived and returned home to Australia at the end of the war. Talbert's name is also present on other memorials and honour boards in Adelaide and Australia.
In a death notice in the Adelaide Chronicle, Captain Hillary of the same battalion described Talbert as "a man absolutely without fear, and brave to an extreme, which one would not imagine possible of one so slightly built". He was also described in this statement as being loved and missed greatly by his colleagues.
Biography contributed
Biography written by Meg Futo from Adelaide High School, attached as a document. Winning entry for 2024 Premier's Anzac Spirit School Prize.
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