Just Another Pair Of Socks

Melton District ANZACS

Thomas NOLAN

Personal

Born: 1893

Birth registration: Victorian Births, Deaths & Marriages registration # 9262

Birthplace: Prahran (Service Record) / Ballarat East Victorian BDM

Parents: Father: Patrick Nolan
Mother: Mary Ryan

Died: 1963

Place of death: Ascot Vale, Victoria; Registration No. 2853

Awards and Honours

  • British War Medal 1914-20
  • Victory Medal

Battalions

Reserve Company, 4th Depot Battalion; 37th Battalion 3rd Reinforcements

Events

Enlistment

Regimental Service Number: 2124

Enlistment date: 31 May, 1916 Melbourne

Age at enlistment: 23 years 2 months

Address at enlistment: Rhines, Melton / 149 Dryburgh Street, North Melbourne

Religion: Roman Catholic

Marital Status: Single

Next of kin: Father: Patrick Nolan

Physical Description: Height: 5 feet 5 inches
Weight: 116 pounds
Complexion: Fresh
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Dark Brown
Distinctive marks: Operation scar right groin, scar on forehead, moles left buttock and right eyebrow,

Embarkation ship: H.M.A.T. A9 Shropshire.

Rank: Private

Return Vessel: Argyle / Osterley (from Cape Town).

Arrival at Australia: 13 April, 1918.At: Melbourne

Discharge Date: 7 September, 1918

War Service Summary

06/05/1916 - Enlisted
25/09/1916 - Embarked Melbourne aboard Shropshire
* Note: Embarked with younger brother, Michael
11/11/1916 - Disembarked Plymouth
17/11/1916 - Marched out to 10th Training Battalion
03/12/1916 - AWL Hurdcott about 24 hours total forfeit 3 days pay
12/12/1916 - Sick to Fargo hospital, Salisbury Bronchitis (Bronchial catarrh) from 37th Battalion
18/12/1916 - Discharged to duty
04/02/1917 - Proceeded overseas to France aboard Invicta; to 3rd A.D.B.D., Etaples
06/02/1917 - Marched out to front from Etaples
07/02/1917 - To 37th Battalion - In the field
22/02/1917 - To hospital sick pleurisy
24/03/1917 - Marched in from 2nd A.G.H.
24/03/1917 - Fit to base details Convalescent Depot, Boulogne
12/05/1917 - Medically classified Tuberculosis
22/05/1917 - Rejoined unit from hospital
06/06/1917 - Wounded in Action Gun Shot Wound left shoulder and fractured left humerus
13/06/1917 - Embarked for England from 10th Stationary Hospital, St Omer, France
14/06/1917 - Admitted Royal Victorian Hospital Netley
29/12/1917 - Discharged and granted furlo
31/01/1918 - Returned to Australia for discharge;
(Medical report: "Wounded by shell fragment, Operated on at C.C.S.; Badly comminuted fracture upper 3rd of humerus, and involvement of shoulder joint; Very septic. 28-12-17. Good union. Still discharging. Sinuses. Movement greatly restricted at L. shldr. Healed scar behind neck of L. humerus. No discharge. Fair movement. Some wasting of muscles. Incap. 1/4 )
C.C.S. is Canadian Clearing Station

War Service Commemerated

Life After the War

Names of wife & children:

Place/s of residence:
1924, 1931, 1936 - Melton

Occupations:
1924, 1931, 1936 - Labourer

Additional Information

Melton Express
And
Bacchus Marsh Express
Saturday 8 April 1916, P 2

The recruiting meeting held, in the Mechanics' Institute here on Friday evening was well attended by both sexes. The proceedings opened with God save the King. Cr. Robinson (Shire President) presided. On the platform with him were Hon. Frank Clarke, M.L.C., Private A. T. Ozanne, and Sergeant McKenzie (a returned soldier), each of whom addressed the meeting, exhorting those present in every possible manner to enlist, and take up the duties for the protection of their people and country. When a call was made for recruits, the following five young men responded - H. Sawyer, E. Minns, H. Black, and two of Mr. P. Nolan's sons, the latter making four from Mr. Nolan's family, as two others are already at the Front. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. and Mrs. Nolan, and acknowledged. The addresses were listened to in the orderly manner due to such occasions. and each speaker was well received, and applauded, for his effort. Mr. Frank Clarke explained why he resigned from the Central Recruiting Committee, and the explanation, was well received. The proceedings were enlivened by patriotic songs from Mrs. Allen, Miss Scotson and Mr. Percy Butler, who enlisted some short time back.

Melton Express
Saturday 6 July 1918, P 2
Despite the inclement weather on Saturday night, the Melton Mechanics' hall was well filled by local and district folk, who assembled to extend a welcome home to Privates Tom. Nolan, Frank Neal, G. Close and Tom Exell ; also to say farewell to-Lance-Corporal Stanley Love, Privates Roy Monk and Norman Kinnersley. The platform was tastefully decorated for the occasion with greenery, flowers, and the Allied flags. Harmony was contributed by Misses Phyllis Emmett, Currie, Evans, Messrs. McLeish, Osborne and S. Hardy. The performers were all in excellent voice and had perforce to obey encores. The
Chairman of the Recruiting Committee (Rev. S. Love) having enlisted .
Privates Close, Nolan and Neal responded in neat speeches, thanking the audience for the splendid reception given them .
. To show the inequality of sacrifice in connection with the war, it is interesting to note that the whole family of Nolan brothers and Neal brothers enlisted. Three Nolans and Frank Neal have returned. Privates Joe Nolan and Keith and Jack Neal are still in the firing line.

Sources

Australian War Memorial
Service Record
Newspaper accounts