Thomas Herbert Ludlow

Thomas Herbert Ludlow

Personal Information
Date of Birth	c1876
Place of Birth	Strathalbyn, South Australia
Age at Enlistment	38 years, 9 months
Description	5'4½" (1.64m) tall ; 151lbs 68.492 kg ; dusky complexion ; brown eyes ; brown hair
Occupation	Baker
Religion	Church of England
Address	Arnold street, Gosnells
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs Julia Bertha Ludlow
Military Information
Reg Number	1845
Date of Enlistment	16 Dec 1914
Rank	Sergeant
Unit/Formation	14th Battalion, 4th Reinforcement
Date of Embarkation	20 Mar 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A9 Shropshire - Convoy 4 Melbourne to Alexandria
Date of Return	8 Jan 1919 ‒ 11 Feb 1919
Ship Returned On	SS Orsova
Fate	Returned to Australia (medical)
Monument	none as yet
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Had served for 6 months with the Commonwealth Horse in South Africa during the Boer War.

War Service

Entered Blackboy Hill camp on 16 Dec 1914, and sent to Victoria for training. On 15 Feb 1915 he was allocated to the 4th reinforcement draft for the 14th Battalion travelling with them to Egypt before transferring at Zeitoun on 30 Apr 1915 to the 13th Australian Army Service Corps Field Bakery with a new Regimental Number of 5300. On 21 May 1915 he embarks for Mudros where his unit is aboard HMT Derfflinger, arriving there on 26 May 1915. On 29 May 1915, along with the majority of his unit he sailed by trawler for Imbros Island where they established a bakery.

On 14 Jun 1915 he was appointed Lance Corporal, and on 7 Jul 1915 he was admitted to the 25th Casualty Clearing Station on Imbros with pneumonia. On 18 Jul 1915 he boarded HMHS Neuralia and was transferred to the 16th Stationary Hospital at Mudros on Lemnos Island. Discharged to duty on 24 Jul 1915, he rejoined his unit on Imbros. On 1 Dec 1915 he was promoted Corporal and on 3 Jan 1916 he disembarked from HMT Tunisian in Alexandria Harbour, Egypt.

At Alexandria on 23 Mar 1916 Thomas and his unit embarked for Marseilles, France on the SS Simla, arriving there on 30 Mar 1916. From 23 May until 7 Jun 1916 Tom was in the 1st Australian General Hospital in France being treated for febrile diarrhoea, rejoining his unit on 7 Jun 1916. He was granted UK leave from 25 Oct until 5 Nov 1916. On 24 Nov 1916 in Rouen he was charged with "While on Active Service , neglect of duty viz allowing 5 rations of bread top be damaged and unfit for use". He was admonished and ordered to pay for the bread damaged. (1 shilling, 1 pence or 11 cents). The same day he was also charged with "While on Active Service, disobedience of orders viz allowing an unprotected fire in the lines." For his he received a Severe Reprimand.

On 17 Nov 1917 he was granted another leave to the UK, until 5 Dec 1917. On 3 Jun 1918 he accidentally injured his left thumb and was sent to the 1st Australian General Hospital. On 10 Jun 1918 he was transferred to the 73rd General Hospital at Trouville, and released to depot on 18 Jun 1918. Transferred to the Base Depot on 25 Jul 1918, and rejoined his unit 1st Field bakery on 29 Jul 1918. On 10 Oct 1918 he was promoted Temporary Sergeant.

Back in Australia he was admitted to the 8th Australian General Hospital from 19 Feb - 5 Mar 1919 with a general, unidentified infection. Discharged by the 5th Military District on 20 Apr 1919.