Thomas Carberry MM MID

Thomas Carberry MM MID

Western Mail 27 Apr 1917 page 23
Personal Information
Date of Birth	not known 1886
Place of Birth	Kings (Offaly) County, Ireland
Death	30 Jan 1931
Age at Enlistment	28 years
Description	5'10" (1.78m) tall ; 221 lbs 100.244 kg ; ruddy complexion ; blue eyes ; light brown hair
Occupation	Labourer
Religion	Roman Catholic
Next of Kin	Sister , Mrs Mary Simmonds
Military Information
Reg Number	1363
Date of Enlistment	14 Sep 1914
Rank	Sergeant Major
Unit/Formation	4th Field Ambulance, C Section / 4th Division
Date of Embarkation	30 Dec 1914
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A31 Ajana
Date of Return	5 Apr 1918 ‒ 22 May 1918
Ship Returned On	HMAT A30 Borda
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	none at present
Medals	Military Medal 1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal Mentioned in Despatches

Pre War

Electoral Roll entries - 1903 - 1906 at 418 Little Bendigo street, Kalgoorlie, miner; 1910 at 14 Pirie street, Ivanhoe, miner

War Service

Initially allocated to C Section of the 4th Field Ambulance on 7 Nov 1914.

On 12 Apr 1915 the 4th Field Ambulance left from Alexandria for Mudros and then on to Gallipoli, with C Section landing 28 Apr 1915.and they returned to Alexandria on 18 Dec 1915. By the end of July they had seen 5,659 patients in addition to the daily sick parades which averaged 57 per day.

At Tel-el-Kebir on 29 Feb 1916 Tom was transferred to the 12th Field Ambulance. They embarked on HMT Scotian in Alexandria on 4 Jun 1916 for Marseilles in France, disembarking on 11 Jun 1916, and then joining the 4th Pioneer Battalion and the 12th Field Company Engineers in a train to northern France. Soon after their arrival in France Tom was promoted Corporal on 15 Jun 1916, and at the same time they were advised that soldiers were not permitted to have cameras. Two days later he was then detached from the Field Ambulance for duty with the 14th Battalion which at that time was moving to Fort Rompu (the Australian name for the unpronounceable village of Erquinghem-Lys.)

Tom was formally transferred to the 14th Battalion on 15 May 1917. On 15 May 1917 as a Lance Sergeant he was awarded the Military Medal, and was promoted to Warrant Officer First Class (Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant) on 20 Apr 1917.

In hospital from 14 Nov 1917 until 23 Dec 1917, and on 31 Jan 1918 he proceeded to the Australian Infantry Base Depot at Le Havre for a Medical Board. On 21 Feb 1918 he was transferred from France to the No.2 Command Depot at Weymouth

On his return he was admitted to the 8th Australian General Hospital at Fremantle for two days in May 1918 before being discharged by 5th Military District on 10 Jun 1918 (medical - rheumatism).

Award Commentary

Military Medal

'During nights of 10th/11th April 1917 near Noreuil this N.C.O. undertook task to build a shrapnel proof shelter for first aid dressing station near front line. When wounded commenced to come in he supervised dressing of wounded and organised new stretcher parties, and parties to bring up water and fuel. He was on duty for 24 hours continuously. He has been recommended several times for previous good work.

Special Mention in Despatch by Sir Douglas Haig on 9 Apr 1917, published 6 May 1917.

The original recommendation was more eloquent:

For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. On the night of the 10/11th April 1917, during the attack on the HINDENBURG LINE opposite REINCOURT, this NCO personally built a splinter proof R.A.P., in itself a herculean task owing to the short notice given. When the wounded streamed in he was indefatigable and ubiquitous in his care for the wounded. In addition he organised Stretcher and water parties and by his cheery manner encouraged all in his vicinity to re-double their efforts. he persisted in his efforts during the action amidst heavy shell fire despite the fact that he himself should have been evacuated owing to illness and extreme fatigue. This NCO has distinguished himself on several previous occasions and I recommend him strongly for award. JH Peck Lt Col. CO 14th Battalion AIF

Post War

On return to Australia lived at 60 Bulwer Street, Perth. Granted a pension of 25/- per fortnight from 11 Jun 1918. Married Lorna

Notes

During the duration of the war, the South West Advertiser regularly published lists of those who had enlisted and gone overseas. On the Jarrahdale lists, the name J Carberrey appears many times. There were no men with surnames spelt Carberrey that enlisted. Of those spelt Carberry, none had a given name starting with J, and the only one who enlisted in WA was Thomas, an itinerant labourer. Working on the principle of inclusion he has been included in this wiki.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Memorial