THOMAS, William Joseph
| Service Number: | 163 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 September 1914, Rockhampton, Queensland |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 9th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Boolburra, Queensland, Australia, 26 December 1882 |
| Home Town: | Ipswich, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Public School Education |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 23 April 1917, aged 34 years |
| Cemetery: |
Grevillers British Cemetery Grevillers British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, Grevillers British Cemetery, Grevillers, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Blackstone Congregational Church Honour Roll, Blackstone West Morton District Welsh Honour Roll, Booval War Memorial, Ipswich Soldier's Memorial Hall Great War |
World War 1 Service
| 4 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 163, 9th Infantry Battalion, Rockhampton, Queensland | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Sep 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 163, 9th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Omrah embarkation_ship_number: A5 public_note: '' | |
| 24 Sep 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 163, 9th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Omrah, Brisbane | |
| 23 Apr 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 163, 9th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 163 awm_unit: 9th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1917-04-23 |
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My Great Uncle William Joseph Thomas was born on the 26th December 1882 to Mary Thomas nee Davies & John Thomas at Boolburra, Queensland, Australia. He was the brother of Sarah Jane, Isaac & Elizabeth. He became a miner but once World War 1 began he enlisted in Rockhampton on the 03 September 1914 and joined the Australian Imperial Force on the 04 Sepemer 1914, he was assigned to the 9th Infantry Battalion Aust Imperial Force Regimental No 163, he embarked from Brisbane aboard HMAT Omah (A5) on the 24 September 1914, they sailed to Egypt arriving in early December. The 3rd Brigade was the covering force for the ANZAC landing on 25 April 1915 and were the first ashore around 4.30am. The battalion was heavily involved in establishing and defending the front line of the ANZAC beachhead, it served at ANZAC until the evacuation in December 1915, however on the 20 July 1915 William Joseph Thomes suffered schrapnel wounds to his right forearm and was evacuated to Malta but was reunited with his Battalion at ANZAC COVE on the 16 September 1915 eventually he was sent to the WESTERN FRONT where he died of schrapnel wounds to his back on the 23 April 1917, he was 34 and is buried in the Grevillers British Cemetery in Pas de Calais, France
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