CRUICKSHANK, Thomas William
| Service Number: | 5570 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 March 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 28th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Hamilton, Victoria, Australia, 1893 |
| Home Town: | Hamilton, Southern Grampians, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Hamilton State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 3 May 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cavendish Bulart District Pictorial Honor Roll, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5570, 28th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Sep 1916: | Involvement Private, 5570, 28th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Surada embarkation_ship_number: A52 public_note: '' | |
| 26 Sep 1916: | Embarked Private, 5570, 28th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Surada, Fremantle |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Thomas William Cruickshank was known as ‘Will’ to his parents. Thomas was raised at Hamilton in Victoria, but had moved to Western Australia when he enlisted. He joined the 28th Battalion in France during late 1916 and was reported missing after the Battle of Bullecourt on 3 May 1917. His older brother, George Cruickshank, was serving in France at the same time and made enquiries to Red Cross.
“My brother, No. 5570 T.W. Cruickshank A Company, 28th Battalion, was wounded at Bullecourt about the first week in May. His leg was shattered by a shell above the knee. He was eventually passed through the dressing station two days after he was wounded. From that time onwards I am unable to get any news of him. Corporal G. Cruickshank, France.”
From other reports in his Red Cross file, it appears George was badly wounded in the leg and had to be left in No Mans Land. The artillery and machine gun fire was so heavy, he could not be rescued and he was never seen again.
His brother, 709 Lce. Cpl. George Cruickshank M.M. 1st Division Signal Company, AIF, was later decorated for bravery before he too was killed in action 29th October 1917, aged 30.
They were the sons of Thomas Brown Cruickshank and Susan Cruickshank, of Cavendish, Victoria.