Thomas Hale Kensit
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | unknown |
| Place of Birth | St Pancras, London, England |
| Death | 13 Nov 1938, aged 48 |
| Place of Death | Subiaco, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 24 years, 3 months |
| Description | 5' 5½" (1.66m) tall; 120 lbs (54.4 Kg) weight; fresh complexion, brown eyes, brown hair |
| Occupation | farm hand |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | c/- Mrs Bunney, Kelmscott, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Aunt Mrs Anna Bunney |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 5355 |
| Date of Enlistment | 12 Jun 1916 |
| Rank | Sapper |
| Unit/Formation | 1st Tunnelling Company |
| Date of Embarkation | 30 Sep 1916 - 2 Dec 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A23 Suffolk |
| Date of Return | 23 Dec 1919 - 2 Feb 1920 |
| Ship Returned On | SS Port Napier |
| Fate | Wounded in Action (gassed) 31 Oct 1917 |
| Monument | none currently |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
War Service
On enlistment sent to Seymour in Victoria to join the Miners Reinforcements.
After less than a month in England, he sailed for France on HMT Arundel from Folkestone on 1 Jan 1917, and joined 1st Tunnelling Coy on 14 Mar 1917.
Hospitalised twice due to poor health in 1917 (conjunctivitis and teeth problems), he was also gassed on 31 Oct 1917 at Dranoutre south west of Ypres on the French / Belgium border. The unit war diary complains of heavy enemy shelling and gas attacks. Worked on the Hill 60 mine at Messines as a 'listener'.
At one point he was blown up, and needed to be rescued by other tunnellers who bored a hole in the blocking earth and pumped air to him. Hospitalised from Mar to Jun 1918 with VD, and again (with debility) from Aug to Sep 1918.
Married Emma Gray, a 23 year old Lady's Companion from Clapton while in England after hostilities have ceased (21 Jul 1919). On 27 Aug 1919 he was placed on indefinite leave awaiting a family ship.
Emma accompanied him on his return to Australia. Discharged 5th Military District on 21 Mar 1920.
Post War
Electoral Roll entries - 1916 "The Oaks", Warren road, Katanning, farm labourer; 1925 with wife Emma at Watheroo, farmer; 1925 - 37 East Marchagee, farmer. Daughter Eileen (b. Canning area 1920), son Frederick (1925 - ). Emma remained at East Marchagee until 1943 or later. [Aunt was Anne Bunney of Kelmscott.]
Notes