Thomas Douglas Bevan
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 10 Mar 1919 |
| Place of Birth | Birmingham, England |
| Age at Enlistment | 20 years, 7 months |
| Description |
6'1" (1.85m) tall ; 168lbs 76.203 kg ; blue eyes ; fair hair ; appendix scar |
| Occupation | Truck driver |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | c/- Masters Dairy, Byford, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Brother , Mr Stephen Arthur Bevan |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | W 987, WX409 & WX14674 |
| Date of Enlistment | 7 Nov 1939 & 26 Jun 1941 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 6th Australian Infantry Division Petrol Company |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate | Remained in Australia |
Pre War
War Service
On 9 April 1938 Thomas had joined the militia with Army number 246720, and was discharged on 1 Nov 1939, before enlisting in the 2nd AIF seven days later when he was allocated No. WX4009. Taken on strength by the 2/11th Australian Infantry Battalion on 8 Nov 1939, he was sent to Northam to undertake training. There on 24 Nov 1939 he was transferred to the 6th Australian Infantry Division Petrol Company. On 30 Nov 1939 he entrained in Perth for AASC training at Puckapunyal in Victoria via Broadmeadows, arriving there on 3 Dec 1939. On 17 Dec 1939 he was admitted to 107th Australian General Hospital at Caulfield. Tom was discharged from the Repatriation Hospital Caulfield to camp on 12 Jan 1940 to undergo a Medical Board. Result was that he was discharged on 6 Feb 1940 in Melbourne.
On 26 Jun 1941, back in Western Australia, he enlisted again with a new serial number WX14674. At the time of re-enlisting it appears that he had given a false name and did not declare his previous service. However, he gave his father (who was serving in the Provost Corps) as NOK again, despite stating that he was married. He was sent to the Northam camp on 1 Jul 1941 for training, but three days later he was admitted to the 110th Australian Base Hospital with concussion. Discharged from the hospital, he was sent to the LMC Home on 16 Jul 1941, returning to the 110th Australian Base Hospital on 9 Aug 1941 for two days, and then being readmitted to the LMC Home. On 27 Aug 1941 he was transferred to the 109th Australian Convalescent Depot where on 13 Sep 1941 he was charged with being AWOL from 6:00pm on 29 Aug 1941 until he was apprehended by Police in Perth at 9:00am on 13 Sep 1941. He was awarded 28 days detention, and forfeited 15 days pay. Total forfeiture was £10/15/- ($21.50). On 18 Sep 1941 he returned to duty and on 10 Oct 1941 Tom was discharged, with his services no longer required due to discreditable service.
Post War
In 1950 Thomas was living in Shelley road, Preston, Lancashire, England.
Notes
Between enlistments he was living in Byford c/- Master's Dairy. There are three separate set of records in the Australian Archives that are in all likelihood connected to this man with varying dates of birth, and with overlapping dates of service, and on one occasion he used the name Douglas Arthur Bevan.