Thomas Egan

Thomas Egan

Personal Information
Date of Birth	23 Feb 1894
Place of Birth	Muldiva, Queensland
Death	17 Feb 1984, aged 90
Place of Death	Forrestfield, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	47 years, 8 months
Description	5'10½" (1.79m) tall ; ; blue eyes ; grey hair ; Gun shot wound (WW1?) to right thigh
Occupation	Wood cutter
Religion	Roman Catholic
Address	Armadale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Sister , Mrs Maggie Tresize
Military Information
Reg Number	W26709
Date of Enlistment	11 Nov 1941
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	Australian Staging Camp - Kalgoorlie
Post War Details
Fate	Remained in Australia
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Had enlisted in the AIF during WWI Queensland (28 Sep 1916 - ) using the name Thomas Donlen. He embarked aboard HMAT A74 Marathon in Brisbane on 27 Oct 1916 as a reinforcement for the 49th Battalion, but deserted when the ship called at Fremantle. He re-enlisted on 22 Nov 1916 and embarked with the 6th reinforcements for the 44th Battalion using the name Thomas Egan. Tom embarked in Fremantle aboard HMAT A34 Persic on 29 Dec 1916, and arrived at Devonport on 3 Mar 1917. During September 1917, while with the 44th Battalion, he was Court Martialled for being AWOL from 8 July until 4 September and sentenced to 120 days detention, forfeiting 82 days pay, but later had 29 days of his sentence remitted. He arrived in France on 28 Dec 1917.

On 13 Mar 1918 he was again AWOL, this time from 9:00pm 13 Mar until 9:30am the next morning. Admonished by his Commanding Officer, he forfeited 2 day's pay. Tom was wounded in the right leg on 1 Sep 1918 during the advance on Mont St Quentin which broke his femur. Evacuated to England via Rouen aboard the HMHS Grantully Castle, he was admitted to the 3rd Southern General Hospital in Oxford, seriously ill. On recovering he was sent to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital for a time before returning to Fremantle aboard the SS Margha, embarking on 19 Jan and disembarking on 23 Feb 1919. AWOL from the 8th Australian General Hospital Fremantle from 7:30pm on 8 Mar until 10:00am on 10 Mar 1919, he was admonished and forfeited 3 day's pay. Tom was discharged on 4 Apr 1919.

World War II Service

Enlisted in the CMF's 5th Australian Garrison Battalion at Swanbourne and had his medical at Claremont Recruit Receiving Depot. Several days later he was AWOL from 8:00am until 2:20pm on 17 Nov 1941 for which he was fined 20/- ($1), and lost a day's pay (6/-). On 29 Nov 1941 he was transferred to the Battalion's Support Company. AWOL again from 6:00pm on 5 Mar until mid day on 6 Mar 1942, he was sentenced to 7 day's detention (9-14 Mar 1942) with a forfeiture of 48/- ($4.80).

On 4 Jul 1942 Tom was transferred to the Australian Staging Camp - Kalgoorlie where on 12 Dec 1942 he was fined £2 ($4) and forfeited a day's pay for being AWOL on 9 Dec 1942. On 31 Mar 1943 he was transferred to Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot in Claremont, and was discharged on 12 Apr 1943 to return to "Essential Services" on the Goldfields Water Supply.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries: 1954, Mundaring Weir, woodcutter; 1963 Mundaring Hotel, yardman; 1968 - 1980 at Jacoby street, Mundaring, retired.