Thomas Tennant

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Tue, 05/05/2015 - 13:51

First Name:

Thomas

Last Name:

Tennant

Mother's Name:

Elizabeth

Father's Name:

Robert Tennant

Date Enlisted:

Tuesday, August 11, 1914

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Lieutenant

Unit:

19th Battalion

Company:

D/5th Machine Gun coy

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Tuesday, November 14, 1916

Place of Death:

France

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Details:

Thomas Tennant (Service no. 61/1451) was born in Ireland circa 1888. He travelled to Australia and was employed as a labourer living in Port Kembla when war was declared. One of the first to enlist (no. 61), Thomas went to Rabaul with the Special Tropical Force as a private, on HMAT A35 Berrima. He served there for six months.

Returning to Australia and on 12th March, 1915 Thomas enlisted for service overseas. He was enlisted as a Sergeant, probably because of his time in Rabaul and his four years service in Royal Marine Artillery. He embarked on HMAT A40 Ceramic with D coy 19th Battalion on 25th June, 1915. Arriving at Gallipoli on 18th August, 1915 Thomas saw service there. After the evacuation he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on 10th March, 1916 and posted to the 5th Machine Gun coy.

He travelled to France and went on leave in June. At this time he married Margaret Moore in London. On his return to the front Thomas was again promoted on 4th September 1916 to Lieutenant. Involved in the fighting at the end of the Sommes battles he was killed in action on 14th November, 1916.

He is buried in Warlencourt Cemetery Plot II, Row A, Grave 4. He is remembered on the Wollongong Presbyterian Church Roll of Honour.