GILLINGS, Thomas John
| Service Number: | 2874 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 May 1916, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Trooper |
| Last Unit: | 1st Light Horse Brigade Machine Gun Squadron |
| Born: | Campbelltown, South Australia, 1896 |
| Home Town: | Queens Park, Canning, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Cannington State School |
| Occupation: | Gardener |
| Died: | Died of Illness (enteric), Egypt, 1 May 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Kantara War Memorial Cemetery Kantara War Memorial Cemetery, Suez Canal, Egypt |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Belmont War Memorial, Campbelltown Methodist Church WW1 Honour Roll, Campbelltown WW1 Memorial, Kings Park 10th Light Horse Regiment Memorial WA |
World War 1 Service
| 18 May 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2874, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2874, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: SS Walwa embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 27 Jul 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2874, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, SS Walwa, Adelaide | |
| 1 May 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Trooper, 2874, 1st Light Horse Brigade Machine Gun Squadron, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2874 awm_unit: 1st Australian Machine Gun Squadron awm_rank: Trooper awm_died_date: 1918-05-01 |
Thomas John Gillings
2874 Pte. Thomas John Gillings was the son of John Gillings and Hannah Elizabeth Gillings of Queens Park, Western Australia.
He enlisted at 25 years of age in South Australia. A member of the Methodist Church in South Australia, his fellow parishioners, and Sunday school representatives, presented him with a watch and a pocket testament prior to his embarkation. He embarked from Adelaide aboard the S.S. Malwa, on 27th July 1916. He was a member of the 1st Light Horse Machine Gun Regiment. Whilst stationed in Egypt he attended a signalling course, completed on 26th October 1917. In April 1918 he was admitted to Hospital, and on May 1st 1918 he died of Enteric Fever.
He is buried at Kantara Memorial Cemetery in Egypt, Plot E Grave 151. Kantara Memorial Cemetery is situated on the Eastern side of the Suez Canal, 50 Kilometres south of Port Said. He was 27 years old.
Submitted 25 April 2016 by Campbelltown Library Volunteers (Digital Diggers)
Biography
Thomas John Gillings
In 1891, Thomas John Gillings was born in Campbelltown, Adelaide, Australia. As Gillings went to school in Western Australia, it is assumed he was raised there by his parents, John and Hannah Gillings. His religious denomination was the Church of England. It is unknown if Thomas Gillings moved back to Adelaide or was just visiting when he enlisted.
When Thomas John Gillings enlisted on May 15th 1916, he was average height of 5 feet 83/4 inches, he had a chest measurement of 36 to 39 inches and weighed 160lbs. His hair was fair coloured and his eyes were blue. He was mainly taken to war based on his amount of strength. Thomas Gillings was was not married because his mother Hannah, was next in kin.
On the 27th of July 1916, Gillings unit embarked from Adelaide on board RMS Malwa. The ship RMS Malwa was built in 1908 and launched later that year. The 10883 tonne ship was a passenger vessel that transported people from New Zealand, Australia and India. When enlisting, he entered the unit of 2nd Depot Battalion A.I.F. He arrived in Moascar, Egypt for the Isolation Camp a month later on 25th of August. When he finished, he went to the School of Instruction in Zeitoun for training in Egypt. While Gillings was in training he did not salute an officer and was subjected 8 days of an unknown punishment. After completing training at the School of Instruction, he was part of the 20th reinforcement of the 3rd Light Horse Regiment (a component of the broader 1st Light Horse Brigade). Within his Regiment, he was a member of the 1st Light Horse Machine Gunman Squadron.
Eventually on 13 October 1917 he was transferred from the School of Instruction at Zeitoun to Rafa Beach in Egypt. This was an important site for the Allied forces. Earlier that year on January 1917, there was the Battle of Rafa. Fighting occurred on the border of British protectorate of Egypt and Ottoman Empire. The British forces fought against the Ottoman Empire to secure their goal of occupying the Sinai Peninsula. After this the British Empire brought in the 3rd Light Horse Regiment as well as other troops to protect the Sinai Peninsula on Rafa Beach. This was an important job as it ensured the security Suez Canal and opening up the Palestine front. The Suez Canal allowed the British Empire to transport items straight to Europe without going around to Africa. Gillings was stationed at the base here in Rafa Beach from October 1917.
On the 20th April 1918, Gillings was sent from Rafa Beach to Jerusalem, where he was admitted sick in hospital. He had many cases of diarrhoea so was transferred to Ludd on the 27th. After arriving at the 43rd Stationary Hospital in Egypt, he passed away on the 1st of May 1918. Gillings died of Enteric fever, which was a common but untreatable disease during the war. Thomas John Gillings was buried Kantara War Memorial Cemetery in Egypt. He is found in row E, grave number 151. His mother received two packages. The first package was of his two medals, 1 Victory medal and 1 British War Medal. The second package had personal belongings in it such as socs, gloves, a hairbrush, military notes etc. writing paper, wallet containing photographs, 1 crucifix and a broken gold ring.
Thomas John Gillings was a brave man for serving Australia in the 1st World War. He showed courage and fearless actions on his time he spent serving. He got to protect important land at Rafa Beach until he became sick and unfortunately died.
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