Thomas Herbert Pierssene

Thomas Herbert Pierssene

Personal Information
Date of Birth	8 May 1901 (claimed 8 May 1898)
Place of Birth	Kelmscott, Western Australia
Death	21 Mar 1973
Place of Death	South Brisbane, Queensland
Age at Enlistment	20 years, 3 months (actual 17 years, 3 months)
Description	5'10¼" (1.78m) tall ; 160 lbs 72.575 kg ; fair complexion ; grey eyes ; fair hair
Occupation	Station hand
Religion	Church of England
Address	Stanley street, South Brisbane, Queensland
Next of Kin	Friend , Mr Herbert Pierssene
Military Information
Reg Number	64393
Date of Enlistment	6 Aug 1918
Rank	Driver
Unit/Formation	6th Reinforcements (Egypt), transferred to Australian Army Service Corps
Date of Embarkation	16 Oct 1918 ‒ 22 Nov 1918
Ship Embarked On	HMT Malta
Date of Return	26 Jul 1919 ‒ 22 Aug 1919
Ship Returned On	HMT Burma
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	none currently
Medals	British War Medal

War Service

Deserters from HM Service. From HMAS Tingira at Sydney on the 29th August, 1917. Thomas Herbert Pierssene, boy, 1st class, born in West Australia, 16 years of age, 5ft 9in high, fresh complexion, hazel eyes, scar on right wrist. A reward of £3 will be paid for the apprehension of the above named deserter.

Soon after enlisting under the name Herbert THOMAS, he was allocated to the 7th Reinforcement draft for 1918 (Qld). Following another fortnight's training he was reallocated to the 6th draft. While he had enlisted in Queensland, he boarded HMT Malta in Sydney, disembarking at Suez.

On arrival in Egypt he was sent to the Central Training Depot at Moascar before being allocated to the AASC Training Depot on 21 Dec 1918.

On 1 Feb 1919 he was transferred to the ANZ Division Train, and on the next day taken on strength by the 34th Company, ANZ Division Train, and appointed Temporary Driver. On 12 Jun 1919 he was insolent towards an NCO at Kantara, and for this he was awarded 3 days Field Punishment. On 5 Jun 1919 he transferred to the ANZ S&T Cadre at Moascar, before returning home to Australia where he took his discharge at 5th Military District on 5 Sep 1919.

On 2 Sep 1919 in Perth, he had signed a Statutory Declaration that his correct name was Thomas Herbert Pierssene, and his birth certificate was sighted.

Post War

The WAGR Casual Worker Register for the Port Hedland - Marble Bar Railway lists Thomas working as a repairer, from 14 Apr 1920 to 12 Oct 1920.

Electoral Roll details - 1925, Port Hedland, metal worker; 1929 Katherine, Northern Territory, motor driver; 1934 - 1937 in Mitchell street Darwin, carrier with wife Eunice Edith; 1943 at 120 Hillcrest avenue, Hurstville, New South Wales a machinist; 1949 - 1954 at House No 2 Vesteys, Darwin, linesman; 1958 in Smith street, West, Darwin line foreman; 1963 at 341 Sandlewood street, Nighcliffe, officer (?); 1968 - 1972 at Marsina street, Port Darwin, Line foreman.

Married Eunice Edith Aitken on 13 Dec 1929 in Palmerston, Northern Territory. Eunice died on 7 Jul 1976. Daughter Marie Winifred Pierssene (1930 - 2006); daughter Margaret Lavinia (1935 - 1936).