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{{Infobox
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{{infobox soldier
| name           = Thomas Bird
+
| image           = [[File:Bird_Thomas.jpg|border|400px]]
 
+
| caption         = Western Mail 18 Feb 1917
| title          =
+
| image2         =
| above          =
+
| caption2       =
| subheader      =
+
| dateofbirth   = 26 Apr 1894
 
+
| placeofbirth   = Wilmington, South Australia
 
+
| death           = 27 Feb 1966
|  image        = [[File:Bird_Thomas.jpg|border|400px]]
+
| placeofdeath   = West Leederville, Western Australia
| caption       = Westen Mail 18 Feb 1917
+
| enlistmentage   = 21 years, 7 months
|   image2       =  
+
| description   = 5' 11" (1.80m) tall; weight 174 lbs (78.9 Kg); fresh complexion, brown eyes, brown hair. Top forefinger missing on right hand   
| caption2       =
+
| height          = 5' 11" (1.80m)
 
+
| weight          = 174 lbs
|headerstyle  = background:#ccf;
+
| complexion      = fresh
|labelstyle   = background:#ddf;
+
| eyes            = brown
|datastyle    =
+
| hair            = brown
 
+
| descriptionnote = Top forefinger missing on right hand  
| header1  = Personal Information
+
| occupation   = Labourer
 
+
| religion   = Methodist
|  label2  = Date of Birth
+
| address   = Mundijong, Western Australia
|  data2  = Not known
+
| relation   = Father
 
+
| nextofkin      = Mr Joseph Bird
|  label3  = Place of Birth
+
| regnumber   = [https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3084532 3789]
data3  = Wilmington, South Australia
+
| enlistmentdate = 22 Nov 1915
 
+
| rank           = Private
| label4  = Death
+
| unit      = 28th Battalion, 9th Reinforcement transferred to 51st Battalion / 13th Brigade, 4th Division
|  data4  = 27 Feb 1966
+
| embarkationdatefrom = 22 Feb 1916  
 
+
| embarkationdateto = 10 Apr 1916
|  label5  = Place of Death
+
| shipembarked   = [[HMAT A28 Miltiades]]
data5  = West Leederville, Western Australia
+
| embarkedshipnote = Avonmouth to Fremantle
 
+
| embarkationdatefrom2 =
|  label6  = Age at Enlistment
+
| embarkationdateto2 =  
data6  = 21 years, 7 months
+
| shipembarked2   =
 
+
| embarkedshipnote2 =
|  label7  = Description
+
| dateofreturnfrom = 22 Feb 1917  
data7  = 5' 11" (1.80m) tall; 174 lbs (78.9 Kg); Fresh complexion, brown eyes, brown hair. Top forefinger missing on right hand   
+
| dateofreturnto = 10 Apr 1917
 
+
| shipreturned    = [[HMAT A63 Karoola]]
| label8  = Occupation
+
| shipreturnednote =
|   data8  = labourer
+
| dateofreturnfrom2 =
 
+
| dateofreturnto2 =  
label9  = Religion
+
| shipreturned2    =
data9  = Methodist
+
| shipreturnednote2 =
 
+
| fate1           = Wounded in Action 15 Aug 1916 Mouquet Farm, Pozierés
| label10  = Address
+
| fate2          = Returned to Australia
data10  = Mundijong, Western Australia
+
| fate3          =
 
+
| fate4          =
| label11 = Next of Kin
+
| monument1   = [[Armadale War Memorial]]
|   data11 = Father  Mr Joseph Bird
+
| monumentnote1  = (Beenup panel)
 
+
| monument2   = [[Mundijong School Roll of Honour]]
| header12 = Military Information
+
| monumentnote2  =
 
+
| monument3   = [[Mundijong Honour Roll]]
|  label13 = Reg Number
+
| monumentnote3  =
data13 = [https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3084532 3789]
+
| monument4   = [[Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour]]
 
+
| monumentnote4  =
label14 = Date of Enlistment
+
| monument5   = [[ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford)]]
|  data14 = 22 Nov 1915
+
| monumentnote5  =
 
+
| monument6   =
| label15 = Rank
+
| monumentnote6  =
|  data15 = Private
+
| monumentawm    =
 
+
| monumentawmnote =
|  label16 = Unit/Formation
+
| monumentother  =
|   data16 = 28th Battalion, 9th Reinforcement transferred to 51st Battalion / 13th Brigade, 4th Division
+
| monumentothernote =
 
+
| medal1   = [[British War Medal]]
| label17 = Date of Embarkation
+
| medal2          = [[Victory Medal]]
|  data17 = 12 Feb 1916 - 11 Mar 1916
+
| medal3          = [[Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal]]
 
+
| medal4          =
| label18 = Ship Embarked On
 
data18 = [[HMAT A28 Miltiades]]
 
 
 
| label19 = Date of Return
 
data19 = 22 Feb 1917 - 10 Apr 1917
 
 
 
label20 = Ship Returned On
 
|   data20 = [[HMAT A63 Karoola]]
 
 
 
label21 = Fate
 
|   data21 = Wounded in Action 15 Aug 1916 Mouquet Farm, Pozierés
 
 
 
| label22 = Monument
 
data22 = [http://monumentaustralia.org.au/display/60041-armadale-war-memorial Armadale (Beenup panel)]<br />[[Mundijong]]
 
 
 
| label23 = Medals
 
data23 = [[British War Medal]]<br />[[Victory Medal]]<br />[[King George V Coronation Medal]]
 
 
 
 
}}
 
}}
  
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==Pre War==
 
==Pre War==
 
 
Prior to enlistment he was working as a fettler at the 9 mile camp, Wellington.   
 
Prior to enlistment he was working as a fettler at the 9 mile camp, Wellington.   
  
 
==War Service==
 
==War Service==
A month after entering Blackboy Hill camp, Thomas was allocated to the 9th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion, and he travelled to Egypt with them.
+
Entering camp, Thomas was assigned to the 36th Depot Company for the first five weeks at Blackboy Hill camp. On 28 Dec 1915 Thomas was allocated to the 9th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion, and he travelled to Egypt with them.
 
    
 
    
Soon after arrival [2 Apr 1916] he was reassigned to the newly formed 51st Battalion at Serapeum and travelled with them aboard the [[HMT Ivernia]] from Alexandria to Marseilles in France, arriving there on 12 Jun 1916.
+
On arrival he was posted to the [[7th Training Battalion]], and three weeks later Thomas was reassigned to the newly formed [[51st Battalion]] at Serapeum. He then trained with them before travelling with them aboard the [[HMT Ivernia]] from Alexandria to Marseilles in France. Boarding on 4 Jun 1916, they disembarked on 12 Jun 1916.
  
On the 14th August 1916, Thomas's unit was part of a major attack on the Mouquet Farm.  They were tasked with capturing Fabeck Graben, a major trench to the south east of the farm proper.  This they succeeded in doing on the night of the 14th, but under sustained German artillery bombardment and repeated attempts to recapture the trench on the 15th the Australians were forced to withdraw across no man's land under heavy fire.  It is likely that this is when Thomas received his wounds either from machine gun fire or from a shell.  He suffered a severe GSW to his left knee.
+
On the 14th August 1916, Thomas's unit was part of a major attack on the Mouquet Farm.  They were tasked with capturing Fabeck Graben, a major trench to the south east of the farm proper.  This they succeeded in doing on the night of the 14th, but under sustained German artillery bombardment and after repeated German attempts to recapture the trench, on the 15th the Australians were forced to withdraw across no man's land under heavy fire.  It is likely that this is when Thomas received his wounds either from machine gun fire or from a shell.  He suffered a severe GSW to his left knee.  
 
Treated at the 1st Canadian General Hospital in Étaples, he was evacuated on 20 Aug 1916 to England from Calais on [[HMHS Newhaven]] and admitted to the Bradford War Hospital.
 
 
   
 
   
Following treatment he was transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital on 24 Jan 1917 before being invalided home aboard [[HMAT A63 Karoola]] from Avonmouth on 22 Feb 1917.   
+
Treated at the 1st Canadian General Hospital in Étaples, he was evacuated on 20 Aug 1916 to England from Calais on [[HMHS Newhaven]] and admitted to the Bradford War Hospital on 21 Aug 1916. Following extensive treatment he was transferred to the [[1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital]] on 24 Jan 1917 before being invalided home aboard [[HMAT A63 Karoola]] from Avonmouth on 22 Feb 1917.   
  
Back in Australia he spent another six months in the Army before being discharged on medical grounds at 4th Military District (South Australia) on 9 Oct 1917.
+
Back in Australia he spent another six months in the Army before being well enough to be discharged on medical grounds by the 5th Military District on 9 Oct 1917.
  
"wounded at the fight at Mouquet Farm, 15th August 1916. Convalescent in Bradford Hospital, Yorkshire."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b1756512_394.pdf |title=The Drill of the Foot-Hills |issue=1917 |location=Western Australia |date=Feb-Mar 1917 |accessdate=16 May 2017 |page=13 |via=State Library of Western Australia}}</ref>
+
"wounded at the fight at Mouquet Farm, 15th August 1916. Convalescent in Bradford Hospital, Yorkshire."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b1756512_394.pdf |title=The Drill of the Foot-Hills |issue=1917 |location=Western Australia |date=Mar 1917 |accessdate=16 May 2017 |page=13 |via=State Library of Western Australia}}</ref>
  
''224th Casualty List'' WOUNDED.... T. Bird (Mundijong).......[along with his brother C. Bird (Mundijong) who is only slightly wounded and remains on duty.]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26992882 |title=WESTERN AUSTRALIA. |newspaper=[[The West Australian]] |volume=XXXII, |issue=4,524 |location=Western Australia |date=30 September 1916 |accessdate=25 May 2017 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>  
+
''224th Casualty List'' WOUNDED.... T. Bird (Mundijong).......[along with his brother C. Bird (Mundijong) who is only slightly wounded and remains on duty.]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26992882 |title=WESTERN AUSTRALIA. |newspaper=[[The West Australian]] |volume=XXXII, |issue=4,524 |location=Western Australia |date=30 September 1916 |accessdate=25 May 2017 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
  
 
==Post War==
 
==Post War==
 
 
"Following upon Mr. O'Grady's resignation, applications were called for the position, and seven answers were to hand.  The successful applicant, Mr T. Bird was appointed to the position, at the General Meeting on Thursday night last, the 10th of January, 1924.  Before the war, Mr. Bird was a sleeper-cutter and champion axeman, and during the war he saw service with the 51st Battalion in Egypt and France, where he was badly wounded at Pozieres.  On his return he tried to adapt himself to clerical life, and was one of the successful candidates who passed the Commonwealth Public Service Examination held in Perth on the 26th August, 1920, and numbers among those who still await the fulfilment of the Commonwealth Government's promise to establish these men in employment.  Mr Bird has also been an Executive Member for the last three years."<ref>The Listening Post January 1924</ref>  
 
"Following upon Mr. O'Grady's resignation, applications were called for the position, and seven answers were to hand.  The successful applicant, Mr T. Bird was appointed to the position, at the General Meeting on Thursday night last, the 10th of January, 1924.  Before the war, Mr. Bird was a sleeper-cutter and champion axeman, and during the war he saw service with the 51st Battalion in Egypt and France, where he was badly wounded at Pozieres.  On his return he tried to adapt himself to clerical life, and was one of the successful candidates who passed the Commonwealth Public Service Examination held in Perth on the 26th August, 1920, and numbers among those who still await the fulfilment of the Commonwealth Government's promise to establish these men in employment.  Mr Bird has also been an Executive Member for the last three years."<ref>The Listening Post January 1924</ref>  
  
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Thomas's name appears on a list of RSL members and others granted a Coronation Medal by the Queen.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article55807829 |title=Queen Gives Coronation Medals To Many In West Australia |newspaper=[[The West Australian]] |volume=69, |issue=20,863 |location=Western Australia |date=3 June 1953 |accessdate=25 May 2017 |page=14 |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref>
 
Thomas's name appears on a list of RSL members and others granted a Coronation Medal by the Queen.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article55807829 |title=Queen Gives Coronation Medals To Many In West Australia |newspaper=[[The West Australian]] |volume=69, |issue=20,863 |location=Western Australia |date=3 June 1953 |accessdate=25 May 2017 |page=14 |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref>
  
Lillian died 21 Jul 1987 aged 92 in Manning.
+
Married Lillian Mary Ingram in 1922 (b.1894) and she died 21 Jul 1987 aged 92 in Manning.  They had 2 children, one of whom was Stanley Vernon (1926 - 2002) who served in the Australian Navy with service No. F5208.
  
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==
 
+
The Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal was established in 1953 and was awarded to Commonwealth citizens who had participated at her coronation or had given exceptional community service.  A total of 11,561 were awarded to Australians.
The King George V Coronation Meal was established in 1911 and was awarded to Commonwealth citizens who had participated at his coronation or given community service.  A total of 15,901 were awarded.
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
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==External Links==
 
==External Links==
 +
*[https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=23150 AIF Project]
 +
*[https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/people/186608 RSL Memorial]
  
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bird , Thomas}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bird , Thomas}}
  
 
[[Category:Soldier]]
 
[[Category:Soldier]]
 +
[[Category:Born Australia]]
 +
[[Category:Born SA]]
 +
[[Category:1916 WIA]]
 +
[[Category:Labourer]]
 +
[[Category:Methodist]]
 +
[[Category:Armadale-Kelmscott]]
 +
[[Category:Serpentine-Jarrahdale]]
 +
[[Category:Returned to Australia]]

Latest revision as of 18:04, 7 July 2022

Thomas Bird
Bird Thomas.jpg
Western Mail 18 Feb 1917
Personal Information
Date of Birth 26 Apr 1894
Place of Birth Wilmington, South Australia
Death 27 Feb 1966
Place of Death West Leederville, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment 21 years, 7 months
Description 5' 11" (1.80m) tall ; 174 lbs
78.925 kg
; fresh complexion ; brown eyes ; brown hair ; Top forefinger missing on right hand
Occupation Labourer
Religion Methodist
Address Mundijong, Western Australia
Next of Kin Father , Mr Joseph Bird
Military Information
Reg Number 3789
Date of Enlistment 22 Nov 1915
Rank Private
Unit/Formation 28th Battalion, 9th Reinforcement transferred to 51st Battalion / 13th Brigade, 4th Division
Date of Embarkation 22 Feb 1916 ‒ 10 Apr 1916
Ship Embarked On HMAT A28 Miltiades Avonmouth to Fremantle
Date of Return 22 Feb 1917 ‒ 10 Apr 1917
Ship Returned On HMAT A63 Karoola
Fate Wounded in Action 15 Aug 1916 Mouquet Farm, Pozierés
Returned to Australia
Monument Armadale War Memorial (Beenup panel)
Mundijong School Roll of Honour
Mundijong Honour Roll
Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour
ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford)
Medals British War Medal
Victory Medal
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal



Pre War

Prior to enlistment he was working as a fettler at the 9 mile camp, Wellington.

War Service

Entering camp, Thomas was assigned to the 36th Depot Company for the first five weeks at Blackboy Hill camp. On 28 Dec 1915 Thomas was allocated to the 9th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion, and he travelled to Egypt with them.

On arrival he was posted to the 7th Training Battalion, and three weeks later Thomas was reassigned to the newly formed 51st Battalion at Serapeum. He then trained with them before travelling with them aboard the HMT Ivernia from Alexandria to Marseilles in France. Boarding on 4 Jun 1916, they disembarked on 12 Jun 1916.

On the 14th August 1916, Thomas's unit was part of a major attack on the Mouquet Farm. They were tasked with capturing Fabeck Graben, a major trench to the south east of the farm proper. This they succeeded in doing on the night of the 14th, but under sustained German artillery bombardment and after repeated German attempts to recapture the trench, on the 15th the Australians were forced to withdraw across no man's land under heavy fire. It is likely that this is when Thomas received his wounds either from machine gun fire or from a shell. He suffered a severe GSW to his left knee.

Treated at the 1st Canadian General Hospital in Étaples, he was evacuated on 20 Aug 1916 to England from Calais on HMHS Newhaven and admitted to the Bradford War Hospital on 21 Aug 1916. Following extensive treatment he was transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital on 24 Jan 1917 before being invalided home aboard HMAT A63 Karoola from Avonmouth on 22 Feb 1917.

Back in Australia he spent another six months in the Army before being well enough to be discharged on medical grounds by the 5th Military District on 9 Oct 1917.

"wounded at the fight at Mouquet Farm, 15th August 1916. Convalescent in Bradford Hospital, Yorkshire."[1]

224th Casualty List WOUNDED.... T. Bird (Mundijong).......[along with his brother C. Bird (Mundijong) who is only slightly wounded and remains on duty.][2]

Post War

"Following upon Mr. O'Grady's resignation, applications were called for the position, and seven answers were to hand. The successful applicant, Mr T. Bird was appointed to the position, at the General Meeting on Thursday night last, the 10th of January, 1924. Before the war, Mr. Bird was a sleeper-cutter and champion axeman, and during the war he saw service with the 51st Battalion in Egypt and France, where he was badly wounded at Pozieres. On his return he tried to adapt himself to clerical life, and was one of the successful candidates who passed the Commonwealth Public Service Examination held in Perth on the 26th August, 1920, and numbers among those who still await the fulfilment of the Commonwealth Government's promise to establish these men in employment. Mr Bird has also been an Executive Member for the last three years."[3]

While Thomas did not hold the position for long, he did remain living in West Leederville with his wife Lillian for the rest of his life.

Thomas's name appears on a list of RSL members and others granted a Coronation Medal by the Queen.[4]

Married Lillian Mary Ingram in 1922 (b.1894) and she died 21 Jul 1987 aged 92 in Manning. They had 2 children, one of whom was Stanley Vernon (1926 - 2002) who served in the Australian Navy with service No. F5208.

Notes

The Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal was established in 1953 and was awarded to Commonwealth citizens who had participated at her coronation or had given exceptional community service. A total of 11,561 were awarded to Australians.

References

  1. "The Drill of the Foot-Hills" (PDF) (1917). Western Australia. Mar 1917. p. 13. Retrieved 16 May 2017 – via State Library of Western Australia. 
  2. "WESTERN AUSTRALIA.". The West Australian. XXXII, (4,524). Western Australia. 30 September 1916. p. 7. Retrieved 25 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia. 
  3. The Listening Post January 1924
  4. "Queen Gives Coronation Medals To Many In West Australia". The West Australian. 69, (20,863). Western Australia. 3 June 1953. p. 14. Retrieved 25 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia. 

External Links