Difference between revisions of "Thomas Hale Kensit"
From Our Contribution
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==War Service== | ==War Service== | ||
| − | On enlistment Thomas was sent to Seymour in Victoria to join the Miners Reinforcements and sailed with 154 other reinforcements soon after for England. The voyage consisted of four legs, Melbourne to Fremantle where they arrived on 10 Oct 1916, Fremantle to Capetown arriving 30 Oct 1916, Capetown to Dakar in West Africa arrival 15 Nov 1916 and where they had a five day stay, and then on to Plymouth. Total voyage time was 64 days. | + | On enlistment Thomas was sent to Seymour in Victoria to join the Miners Reinforcements and sailed with 154 other reinforcements soon after for England. The voyage consisted of four legs, Melbourne to Fremantle where they arrived on 10 Oct 1916, Fremantle to Capetown arriving 30 Oct 1916, Capetown to Dakar in West Africa arrival 15 Nov 1916 and where they had a five day stay re coaling, and then on to Plymouth. Total voyage time was 64 days. |
After less than a month in England, he sailed for France on [[HMT Arundel]] from Folkestone on 1 Jan 1917, and joined the 1st Tunnelling Company on 14 Mar 1917. | After less than a month in England, he sailed for France on [[HMT Arundel]] from Folkestone on 1 Jan 1917, and joined the 1st Tunnelling Company on 14 Mar 1917. | ||
| − | Hospitalised twice due to poor health in 1917 (conjunctivitis and teeth problems), he was also gassed on 31 Oct 1917 at Dranoutre south west of Ypres on the French - Belgium border. The unit war diary complains of heavy enemy shelling and gas attacks. | + | Hospitalised in France twice due to poor health in 1917 (conjunctivitis and teeth problems), he was also gassed on 31 Oct 1917 at Dranoutre south west of Ypres on the French - Belgium border. The unit war diary complains of heavy enemy shelling and gas attacks. |
Tomas worked on the Hill 60 mine at Messines as a 'listener'. At one point he was blown up, and needed to be rescued by other tunnellers who bored a hole in the blocking earth and pumped air to him. | Tomas worked on the Hill 60 mine at Messines as a 'listener'. At one point he was blown up, and needed to be rescued by other tunnellers who bored a hole in the blocking earth and pumped air to him. | ||
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Electoral Roll entries - 1916 "The Oaks", Warren road, Katanning, farm labourer; 1925 with wife Emma at Watheroo, farmer; 1925 - 37 East Marchagee, farmer. Daughter Eileen (b. Canning area 1920), son Frederick (1925 - ). Emma remained at East Marchagee until 1943 or later. [Aunt was Anne Bunney of Kelmscott.] | Electoral Roll entries - 1916 "The Oaks", Warren road, Katanning, farm labourer; 1925 with wife Emma at Watheroo, farmer; 1925 - 37 East Marchagee, farmer. Daughter Eileen (b. Canning area 1920), son Frederick (1925 - ). Emma remained at East Marchagee until 1943 or later. [Aunt was Anne Bunney of Kelmscott.] | ||
| + | On 26 Jun 1934 Thomas signed a Statutory Declaration that he had lost his Discharge Certificate when a piece of wood fell out of the fire onto the floor, lighting the house which was lined by hessian, and everything we owned was burnt. | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
Revision as of 19:07, 10 February 2018
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | unknown |
| Place of Birth | St Pancras, London, England |
| Death | 13 Nov 1938, aged 48 |
| Place of Death | Subiaco, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 24 years, 3 months |
| Description | 5' 5½" (1.66m) tall; 120 lbs (54.4 Kg) weight; fresh complexion, brown eyes, brown hair |
| Occupation | farm hand |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | c/- Mrs Bunney, Kelmscott, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Aunt Mrs Anna Bunney |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 5355 |
| Date of Enlistment | 12 Jun 1916 |
| Rank | Sapper |
| Unit/Formation | 1st Tunnelling Company |
| Date of Embarkation | 30 Sep 1916 - 2 Dec 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A23 Suffolk |
| Date of Return | 23 Dec 1919 - 2 Feb 1920 |
| Ship Returned On | SS Port Napier |
| Fate |
Wounded in Action (gassed) 31 Oct 1917 Returned to Australia |
| Monument | none currently |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
War Service
On enlistment Thomas was sent to Seymour in Victoria to join the Miners Reinforcements and sailed with 154 other reinforcements soon after for England. The voyage consisted of four legs, Melbourne to Fremantle where they arrived on 10 Oct 1916, Fremantle to Capetown arriving 30 Oct 1916, Capetown to Dakar in West Africa arrival 15 Nov 1916 and where they had a five day stay re coaling, and then on to Plymouth. Total voyage time was 64 days.
After less than a month in England, he sailed for France on HMT Arundel from Folkestone on 1 Jan 1917, and joined the 1st Tunnelling Company on 14 Mar 1917.
Hospitalised in France twice due to poor health in 1917 (conjunctivitis and teeth problems), he was also gassed on 31 Oct 1917 at Dranoutre south west of Ypres on the French - Belgium border. The unit war diary complains of heavy enemy shelling and gas attacks.
Tomas worked on the Hill 60 mine at Messines as a 'listener'. At one point he was blown up, and needed to be rescued by other tunnellers who bored a hole in the blocking earth and pumped air to him.
Hospitalised from Mar to Jun 1918 with VD, and again (with debility) from Aug to Sep 1918.
Married Emma Gray, a 23 year old Lady's Companion from Clapton while in England after hostilities had ceased (21 Jul 1919). On 27 Aug 1919 he was placed on indefinite leave awaiting a family ship.
Emma accompanied him on his return to Australia. Discharged 5th Military District on 21 Mar 1920.
Post War
Electoral Roll entries - 1916 "The Oaks", Warren road, Katanning, farm labourer; 1925 with wife Emma at Watheroo, farmer; 1925 - 37 East Marchagee, farmer. Daughter Eileen (b. Canning area 1920), son Frederick (1925 - ). Emma remained at East Marchagee until 1943 or later. [Aunt was Anne Bunney of Kelmscott.]
On 26 Jun 1934 Thomas signed a Statutory Declaration that he had lost his Discharge Certificate when a piece of wood fell out of the fire onto the floor, lighting the house which was lined by hessian, and everything we owned was burnt.
Notes
External Links
For further details relating to the 3rd Tunnelling Company, visit their website [1]