Thomas William Dawes

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Wed, 10/02/2016 - 08:56

First Name:

Thomas

Middle Name:

William

Last Name:

Dawes

Mother's Name:

Isabella Dawes

Father's Name:

James Dawes

Date Enlisted:

Friday, August 28, 1914

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

1st Field Ambulance

Awards:

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Thursday, July 2, 1931

Place of Death:

Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney

Cause of Death:

War related wounding

Details:

Thomas Dawes (Service No 184) was born in Mount Kembla, N.S.W. around 1890.

When Thomas enlisted, he was 24 years old, single, lived at Murrurundi, N.S.W. working as a locomotive cleaner. Thomas nominated his father, William, of Corrimal, N.S.W. as his next of kin.

Thomas embarked from Sydney on HMAT A14 Euripides with C Section, 1st Field Ambulance on 20th October 1915. He arrived in Egypt in early December and joined the troops going to Gallipoli.

1st Field Ambulance landed around 8 am on 25th April armed with stretchers rather than guns and found plenty of work as soon as they got ashore. Thomas, like all the stretcher bearers, was exposed to danger while caring for their mates. His work continued until 12th July 1915 when he was hit in the spine by a bullet and evacuated for treatment. He was admitted to hospitals in Malta, Egypt and England for treatment and when strong enough was returned to Australia a year later, in July 1916.

Thomas was discharged on 3rd December 1916, paralysed, and spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

Thomas died in hospital on 2nd July 1931 as a result of his war injury.

His brother Lieutenant Ernest Dawes also served and was awarded the Military Medal.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, DAWES T W