Thomas Charles Howard
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | Not known |
| Place of Birth | Ballarat, Victoria |
| Death | 18 Oct 1980, aged 80 |
| Place of Death | Attadale, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 18 yeras, 1 month |
| Description | 5'8½" (1.74m) tall; weight 150 lbs (68 kg); fair complexion, blue eyes, fair hair |
| Occupation | farmer |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | 'Oakdale' farm, Kenwick, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father Mr Jason Howard |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 155 |
| Date of Enlistment | 29 Jun 1917 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 1st Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron, Sept (7th) Reinforcements / 1st Light Horse Brigade, ANZAC Mounted Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 24 Nov 1917 - 21 Dec 1917 |
| Ship Embarked On | SS Canberra |
| Date of Return | 16 May 1919 - 27 Jun 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | HMNZT Orari |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument | Kelmscott War Memorial (North panel) |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
War Service
Records indicate that while he received some of his training at Blackboy Hill camp, he was also at the Claremont and Karrakatta camps before embarking for Egypt. In the period before he left for overseas, he managed on nine occasions to be punished for minor misdemeanors - primarily avoidance of parades.
On arrival in Egypt he was sent to the reinforcements' training camp at Moascar where initially he was placed with the machinegun training squad until 3 Mar 1918 when he was sent to the Imperial School of Instruction for three weeks. Thomas joined the 1st Australian Machine Gun Squadron on 27 Apr 1918 at Ghezireh where he was employed as Apprentice shoesmith from 7 Sep 1918 until 12 Feb 1919.
On 17 Nov 1918 at Richon in Palestine he was absent from the 11:30 Stable Parade, and was penalised with 4 days field punishment No. 2. He reverted to trooper on 12 Feb 1919, and from 23 Mar to 4 Apr 1919 he spent time in hospital at Kantara with Rubella. A month after his recovery it was time to head back to Australia.
Discharged 5th Military District 20 Jul 1919
Post War
Notes
Nothing on his army records to link him with the Kelmscott area, although it is on their memorial. However his name is not recorded on either the Gosnells or Canning Rolls of Honour.