William Renfrey Thomas

William Renfrey Thomas

Personal Information
Date of Birth	not known 1898
Place of Birth	Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Death	30 Aug 1954
Place of Death	not known
Age at Enlistment	18 years old
Description
Occupation	Stockman
Religion	Church of England
Address	Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr William James Thomas
Military Information
Reg Number	2485
Date of Enlistment	8 Mar 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	10th Light Horse regiment, 17th Reinforcement transferred to Camel Corps
Date of Embarkation	16 May 1916 ‒ 16 Jun 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A52 Surada
Date of Return	16 Mar 1919 ‒ 10 Apr 1919
Ship Returned On	HMAT A14 Euripides
Fate	Wounded in Action 19 Apr 1917 near Gaza Returned to Australia
Monument	Jarrahdale Honour Roll ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford)
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

Entered camp on 8 Mar 1916 and on 1 Apr 1916 he was allotted to the 17th reinforcement draft for the 10th Light Horse Regiment.

On arrival in Egypt Bill was reallocated to the 3rd Light Horse Regiment Reserve, and on 10 Aug 1916 detached to the 3rd Company, 1st Battalion, Imperial Camel Corps. This was formalised on 11 Nov 1916 when he was transferred to the 12th Company of the 3rd Battalion of the Camel Corps.

On 19 Apr 1917 Bill was wounded in the right leg by a bullet during the second battle for Gaza. A bigger disaster than the first attempt, the total casualties were more than 6,000 of whom 345 were members of the Camel Corps, including Bill. Seen by an English Field Ambulance he was sent on to the 53rd Casualty Clearing Station, then the 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance on 20 & 21 Apr 1917 before being admitted to the 26th Casualty Clearing Station from 22 - 27 Apr 1917. From El Arish he sent to Cairo and the 24th Stationary Hospital, before being admitted first to the 14th Australian General Hospital on 29 Apr 1917. Bill was released to a Convalescent Depot on 12 May 1917.

While convalescing he ran foul of military law, on 19 May 1917 being charged with '(1) While on active service Breaking out of Barracks about 6:20pm and remaining absent until apprehended by MPs about 10:20pm 17 May 1917 (4 hours); (2)Out of Bounds in Waghel Burke street. Awarded forfeiture of 4 days pay.

On 23 May 1917 he was discharged from hospital and set to the Camel Corps Depot in Abbassia, and he was again placed in the reserve pool. Bill rejoined his unit on 6 Jun 1917.

Hospitalised from 22 Aug - 27 Aug 1917 and then returned to 12 Company, 3rd Battalion Imperial Camel Corps. After another brief period in hospital, Bill was transferred to the ANZAC Base Depot Company of the Camel Corps, where in April and May 1918 he was again in trouble for sneaking out of camp. On both occasions he was found by Military Police the same day earning fines and Field Punishment No.2. After being released from detention he was set back to his normal unit.

With reorganisation of units in July 1918, Bill was transferred to the 15th Light Horse Regiment.

Returned to Australia with malaria, and was discharged by 5th Military District on 11 Aug 1919.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries - 1922 - 1925 in Nullagine, a butcher

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial