Thomas Alfred Reed

Thomas Alfred Reed

Western Mail 23 Feb 1917 page 31
Personal Information
Date of Birth	Not known
Place of Birth	Warracknabeal, Victoria
Death	24 Jun 1917
Place of Death	Messines (Mesen), Belgium
Age at Enlistment	27 years, 11 months
Description	5'7½" (1.71m) tall ; 150lbs 68.039 kg ; fresh complexion ; brown eyes ; brown hair
Occupation	Farm hand
Religion	Methodist
Address	Brookton, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr George Reed
Military Information
Reg Number	989
Date of Enlistment	14 Mar 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	44th Battalion Headquarters, later posted to D Company.
Date of Embarkation	6 Jun 1916 ‒ 21 Jul 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A29 Suevic Fremantle to Plymouth
Fate	WIA 6 Mar 1917 Armentieres KIA 24 Jun 1917 Messines
Monument	Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll Gosnells Ward Honour Roll Menin Gate Memorial Australian War Memorial
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Electoral Roll entries: 1913 - 1916 East Brookton, farmer.

War Service

Thomas entered the Blackboy Hill camp on 14 Mar 1916, and after a fortnight's basic training was allocated to the 13th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion. Three weeks later he was transferred to the 1st reinforcement draft for the 44th Battalion, and on 1 Jun 1916, just before the battalion shipped overseas, wastage in the main unit meant that he became a member of 'D' Company of the 44th Battalion. On arrival in England was sent to a Training Battalion to prepare for service in France and Belgium.

On 25 Nov 1916 Thomas proceeded overseas with the battalion to France through Southampton. In France on 8 Dec 1916 he fell ill with the mumps and was admitted the next day to the 7th General Hospital in St Omer. He was discharged to the 3rd Division's Base Depot on 29 Dec 1916, and rejoined the 44th Battalion on New Year's Day in the front line trenches at Armentieres. On 1 Feb 1917 Thomas was detached for duty to the 6th Field Artillery Brigade - his return to the unit is not noted.

On 6 Mar 1917 the Battalion's War Diary makes no mention of enemy action as it came out of the front lines near Armentieres. However, Thomas's individual records contain entries that tell of him receiving a gun shot wound to his right cheek and right side of his neck. (Possibly the action of a sniper). Seen by the 11th Field Ambulance and treated till 8 Mar 1917, he was then transferred to the 3rd Division's Rest Station until 16 Mar 1917, when he rejoined the battalion.

The 44th Battalion returned to the front line just east of Messines on 21 Jun 1917, and on 24 Jun 1916 the enemy and the Australians exchanged artillery fire on each other's positions during the day. Thomas's records show only that he was killed in action on that day, but Neville Browning's book gives further detail

"On June 24th (1917) work continued on the defences, despite enemy arillery…...at 10pm a heavy artillery barrage was fired on the front lines for an hour and intermittent shelling followed until daylight. Several men were killed during the bombardment; they were...Private T.A. Reed"

Thomas's mother Elizabeth received a pension of 30/- ($3) per fortnight from 10 Sep 1917.

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  Menin Gate Memorial at sunset.
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  Section of 44th Battalion panels