Thomas Hughie Culbertson

Personal Information
Date of Birth	13 Apr 1891
Place of Birth	Ballymoney, Co. Antrim, Ireland
Death	16 Mar 1954
Place of Death	Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	25 years, 11 months
Description	5' 3½" (1.61m) tall; weight 125 lbs (56.7 kg); fresh complexion, light brown hair
Occupation	labourer
Religion	Presbyterian
Address	various, wife at 103 Tower street, Leederville
Next of Kin	Wife Mrs Daisy Jessica Cuthbertson
Military Information
Reg Number	6503
Date of Enlistment	12 Apr 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	11th Battalion, 21st Reinforcements (Signaller), transferred to 1st Division Signals
Date of Embarkation	13 Oct 1916 - 2 Dec 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A23 Suffolk
Date of Return	1 Jun 1919 - 8 Jul 1919
Ship Returned On	SS Somali
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	Armadale War Memorial (Bedfordale panel) Bedfordale Roll of Honour Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Married Daisy Jessica Redford in Leederville on 3 Sep 1916 prior to travelling overseas.

Birth Notice Culbertson (nee Redford) On June 13, at their residence, Tower street Leederville, the wife of Private T. Culbertson, on active service, a son (Harry Valentine named after an uncle Harry Valentine Buck of B Company 20th Battalion who was killed at Pozieres on 29 Jul 1916)

War Service

During his training before going overseas, Tom was trained as a signaller.

On arrival in England was posted to 3rd Training Battalion at Durrington before moving to France in early August 1917 via Southampton. While at Durrington he was AWOL for four days, resulting in the loss of 9 day's pay and spending 4 days in detention.

He joined the 11th Battalion on 4th August 1917 along with 78 others in a rest area at Bayenghem-les-Seninghem, west of Armentiès. However, a fortnight later he was sent to HQ 3rd Infantry Brigade, and then later to the 1st Division Signal Company with whom he remains until after hostilities ceased.

In March 1918 he had again taken four days unauthorised leave, this time earning him 28 days Field Punishment No.2, and forfeiture of 39 days pay. On 15 Mar 1919 he rejoined the 11th Battalion for processing his return to Australia. He remains with them in France until Anzac Day eve 1919 when he travelled to London to await shipment home.

Discharged by the 5th Military District on 15 Aug 1919.

Post War

Death Notice for Harry Valentine who died at the Children's Hospital, Perth on 25 Feb 1919 aged 1 year, 8 months. So Tom was to never to meet his son as he had not arrived home as yet. The West Australian 26 June 1919 P. 6 The list of returning soldiers on the Somali includes 6503, Pte Culbertson, T, 11th Bn.

1925 Electoral Roll has Tom (farmer growing tomatoes and vegetables) and Daisy at Muchea where she had lived with her mother and sisters while he was away; the Sunday Times 21 Dec 1924 p.23 includes a tender request for purchase of the 160 acre farm in Tom's name being forced under the Agricultural Land Act.

By 6 Oct 6 1928 when a daughter (Dorothy Evelyn Beatrice) was born they are in Stephen street, Queens Park with Tom a labourer. In 1932 a son Horace R, followed, and a sister for Dorothy arrived on Nov 15th 1934; in 1943 they had moved to Wharf street.

Death notices in The West Australian 18 Mar 1954 p.36 indicate that Tom's death was sudden, and that his surviving children were: Thomas Hudson (b.1923), John Henry (b. 1923), Cyril Herbert (b.1924), Betty, Dorrie, Horace Rueben (b. 1932), Violet, and that he was father in law to Eileen, Mavis, Kath, Bob, Keith, Helen and Reg.

Daisy continues to live in the home after Tom's death until her own on 12 Mar 1976.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL MemorialSignals