The AIF Project

Thomas Henry FRENCH

Regimental number2333
Place of birthMile End, South Australia
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationFitter and turner
AddressAdelaide, South Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation18
Height5' 6"
Weight120 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs C K French, 7 Rose Street, Mile End, South Australia
Previous military service76A Senior Cadets (12 months)
Enlistment date27 November 1915
Place of enlistmentAdelaide, South Australia
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name32nd Battalion, 4th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/49/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board RMS Mongolia on 9 March 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll32nd Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 22 September 1919
Discharge date23 January 1920
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Adelaide, 9 March 1916; disembarked Suez, 3 April 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 20 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 30 June 1916.

Marched out of 5th Australian Base Depot to join unit, 29 July 1916; taken on strength of 32 Bn, in the field, 2 August 1916.

Wounded in action, and admitted to No 15 Field Ambulance, 12 August 1916 (measles); transferred to No 7 General Hospital, St Omer, 16 August 1916; to details, 18 August 1916; rejoined 32nd Bn, 20 August 1916.

Admitted to No 32 Casualty Clearing Station, 1 December 1916 (gunshot wound, left knee and right ankle); transferred to No 3 Stationary Hospital, Rouen, 5 December 1916; to England, 7 December 1916; to 1st London General Hospital, Camberwell, 8 December 1916; to No 3 Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, 16 February 1917; discharged to furlough, 2 March 1917; marched in No 2 Command Depot, 17 March 1917.

Marched in No 3 Command Depot, Hurdcott, 21 April 1917.

Classified B1A3, 22 April 1917.

Transferred to, and taken on strength of, 70th Bn, Wareham, 1 May 1917.

Found guilty, 31 July 1917, of being absent without leave from 1700 hours, 30 July 1917, until 1130 hours, 31 July 1917: awarded forfeiture of 7 days' pay.

Admitted to No 17 Field Ambulance, Windmill Hill, 18 September 1917 (scabies); transferred to No 1 Command Depot, Perham Downs, 24 September 1917 and classified B1A4.

Transferred to 32nd Bn and marched in Overseas Training Bde, Perham Downs, 1 October 1917.

Found guilty, 19 October 1917, of drunkenness (1st offence): award, admonished.

Proceeded overseas to France, 2 November 1917; marched in 5th Australian Divisional Base Depot, Le Harve, 3 November 1917.

Marched out to unit, 7 November 1917; taken on strength of 32nd Bn, in the field, 14 November 1917.

Detached to Bde as a runner, 13 July 1918.

Wounded in action (second occasion), 1 October 1918, and admitted to No 132 Field Ambulance, then transferred to No 12 Casualty Clearing Station, the same day (gunshot wound to left arm); to No 42 Ambulance Train, 2 October 1918; to No 9 General Hospital, Rouen, 3 October 1918; to England, 4 October 1918; to No 2 Western General Hospital, Manchester, 5 October 1918; discharged to furlough, 30 October 1918; marched in No 1 Command Depot, Sutton Veny, 13 November 1918.

Admitted to Group Clearing Hospital, Sutton Veny, 5 February 1919 (influenza); discharged to No 1 Command Depot, Sutton Veny, 6 March 1919.

Found guilty, 26 April 1919, of being absent without leave from 2359 hours, 25 March 1919, until 1300 hours, 26 March 1919: award, admonished and forfeited 1 day's pay.

Commenced return to Australia on board HMAT 'Port Sydney', 22 September 1919; admitted to ship's hospital, 28 October 1919 (pneumonia); disembarked Adelaide as a patient, 10 November 1919, and admitted to No 7 Australian General Hospital; discharged (medically unfit), Adelaide, 23 January 1920.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death1 January 1925
SourcesNAA: B2455, FRENCH Thomas Henry

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