Thomas Flavin

Personal Information
Date of Birth	24 Dec 1880
Place of Birth	Waterford, Ireland
Death	15 Apr 1917
Place of Death	Louverval, France
Age at Enlistment	32 years
Description	5'4" (1.63m) 150lbs (60 kg), medium complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair.
Occupation	Sleeper cutter
Religion	Roman Catholic
Address	Karrugullen, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Mother Mrs Julia Flavin
Military Information
Reg Number	2269
Date of Enlistment	9 Mar 1915
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	11th Battalion
Date of Embarkation	6 Jun 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A2 Geelong
Fate	Killed in Action
Monument	Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Karragullen Memorial Roll, WA State War Memorial Australian War Memorial
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Thomas is listed in the 1905 Post Office Directory as living at Mungari, a repairer. Western Australian Railway records record him beginning with them on 6 Apr 1904 at Mungaie, 20 km west of Klagoorlie. In July 1905 he was transferred to Dedari west of Coolgardie, but that he left their service in 1907 without notice. Electoral Roll entries: 1912 - 1913: mill hand at Bartons Mill; 1916 - 1917, Canning Mills, sleper hewer

War Service

Thomas enlisted on 9 Mar 1915 and was sent to join the No. 12 Depot Company at Northam. On 16 Apr 1915 he was allocated to 'D' Company of the 28th Battalion, but this was later changed to the 10th Reinforcement draft for the 11th Battalion. With them, on 6 Jun 1915 Thomas boarded HMAT A2 Geelong in Fremantle for Port Suez where they disembarked on 30 Jun 1915. On 22 Sep 1915 he was admitted to the 15th General Hospital wiht a cut forehead, and was discharged on 24 Sep 1915 when he was transferred to Ras-el-Tin where he was admitted with a lacerated shoulder.

Repaired, he was taken on strength by the Overseas Base at Mustapha, and on 18 Oct 1915 he embarked aboard HMAT A30 Borda for Gallipoli where he was taken on strength by the 11th Battalion and posted to 'A' Company. His time on Gallipoli was relatively short and he disembarked in Alexandria from the HMT Lake Michigan on 6 Jan 1916. Thomas was charged on 28 Jan 1916 at Tel-el-Kabir, Egypt with beimg AWOL from 6:00am until 11:20 pm on 28 Jan 1916, and forfeited the day's pay.

Thomas, along with his unit embarked on HMT Empress of Britain in Alexandria on 29 Mar 1916 for France, and disembarked at Marseilles on 5 Apr 1916. On 19 May 1916 a Court Martial No. 5387 found Thomas guilty of being AWOL from 8:30am 12 May until 8:45pm on 15 May 1916, and sentenced him to 80 days Field Punishment No. 2, with the forfeiture of 67 day's pay (20 days Field Punishment was later waived). On 17 Jul 1916 Thoams was charged with having been drunk the previous day, and was awarded 7 days Field Punishmen No. 2. On 6 Aug 1916 Court Martial 5717 again dealt wih a period of AWOL, from 8:30am 1 Aug 1916 until 2:30pm 2 Aug 1916. Thomas wasa sentenced Thomas to two years imprisonment with hard labour. This was later remitted to 60 days Field Punishment No 2 and time served awaiting trial. A further Court Martial No. 8896, on 3 Apr 1917 found Thomas 'Not Guilty' (charge not listed).

Thomas was killed in action on 15 Apr 1917 at Louverval, mid-way between Bapaume and Cambrai. The battalion had been subject to an artillery attack at 4:00am followed by German troops attacking their positions. They were succesful in penetrating the front line position and engaging 'A' Company from the side before they were driven back. 'A" Companies forwar picquet was surronded by the enemy and the platoon manning it ran out of ammunition and was wipped out. It is probable that Thomas was one of those men.

photos courtesy L Reynolds