Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Military Cross

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty at Chuignes, on 23rd August, 1918, when the company was held up and both flanks were in the air. He patrolled across under heavy fire and got in touch with the battalion on the left; then, after repelling an attack, he out-flanked the enemy and took fifteen prisoners and two machine guns. Later, he led a patrol into the village, bringing back useful information. His energy and courage were a fine example to his men.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No 67
Date: 3 June 1919

Lieutenant (Lt) Thomas John Perkins MC, 4th Battalion. A bank clerk from Brandale, Tasmania, Lt Perkins embarked from Australia in February 1915 for Gallipoli with the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Hospital. In a letter he wrote to the Launceston Examiner in March 1916, his unit was the last to leave Gallipoli. His letter states "We had the honour of being the last to leave, on account of being the best medical unit, and they could depend on our work." At 4am on the morning of 20 December 1915, Corporal (Cpl) Perkins boarded the last boat to leave the Peninsula: "It hurt us to leave the land we paid so much for. Nobody knows how much we paid for it, only we who were there". After some time on the Western Front, Cpl Perkins was selected to attend training at No. 6 Officer Cadet Battalion, in Oxford, where he qualified as an officer in early 1918.

In January 1919 2nd Lieutenant (2nd Lt) Perkins was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty for his actions on the 23 August 1918. While under heavy fire he patrolled across a section of ground to get in touch with another battalion who were under attack. He then out-flanked the enemy and took fifteen prisoners and two machine guns. Only a few weeks later, 2nd Lt Perkins was admitted to hospital suffering severe gunshot wounds. He was sent to London, where they amputated his right arm and he was subsequently invalided home to Australia.