Thomas McDONNELL

Regimental number3400
Place of birthGalway, Ireland
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationStoreman
AddressSurry Hills, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation32
Height5' 6.75"
Weight151 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs M McDonnell, 198 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills, Sydney, New South Wales
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date23 August 1915
Place of enlistmentWarwick Farm, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name13th Battalion, 11th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/30/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A17 Port Lincoln on 13 October 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll13th Battalion
FateEffective abroad (still overseas)
Discharge date8 November 1919
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Found guilty at Zeitoun, 19 January 1916, of (1) drunkenness, (2) disorderly conduct in lines after lights out, (3) resisting arrest, (4) being drunk in lines several days later and (5) using obscene language with an officer: awarded 21 days' detention; forfeited total of 2/6 from pay. Found guilty at Zeitoun, 27 March 1916, of being absent without leave: awarded 3 days' closed confinement. Joined 13th Bn, Serapeum, 2 April 1916.

Found guilty at Serapeum, 4 May 1916, of being absent without leave, 9.00 pm, 29 April, to 7.30 pm, 2 May 1916: awarded 7 days' Field Punishment No 2; forfeited total of 4 days' pay. Allotted to 4th Training Battalion, Serapeum, 13 May 1916.

Found guilty of being absent without leave, (1) 2.00 pm, 15 September, to 9.00 pm, 15 September 1916, (2) 9.00 am, 16 September, to 5.00 pm, 16 September 1916, (3) 8.30 am, 17 September, to 10.30 pm, 17 September 1916: awarded 28 days' Field Punishment No 2.

Absconded from Tel-el-Kebir on HT 'Ivernia' and disembarked at Marseilles, 28 June 1916; marched into 4th Australian Divisional Base Depot from detention, Etaples, 19 July 1916.

Found guilty at Etaples, 28 July 1916, of (1) drunkenness, and (2) using obscene language to a non-commissioned officer: awarded 28 days' Field Punishment No 1; rejoined unit in the field, 15 August 1916.

Found guilty, 21 August 1916, of (1) being absent without leave from 9.00 am parade, 17 August, to 12.00 pm, 20 August 1916, and (2) losing rifle and bayonet: awarded 28 days' Field Punishment No 2; fined #5.18.3 for rifle; forfeits total of 4 days' pay. Found guilty in the field, 18 October 1916, of (1) being absent without leave, 10.00 am, 8 October, to 4.00 pm, 8 October 1916, (2) being absent without leave, 9.00 am, 9 October, until apprehended by Military Police at 4.00 pm, 9 October 1916, (3) entering an establishment during prohibited hours and refusing to leave after being ordered to do so, (4) resisting arrest, (5) drunkenness: awarded 28 days' Field Punishment No 1. Found guilty at Rouen, 19 November 1916, of being absent from unit, 7.30 am, 18 November, until apprehended by Military Police, 10.00 am, 19 November 1916: remanded to detention for Court Martial. Marched under escort in 4th Australian Divisional Base Depot, Etaples, 22 November 1916; rejoined unit from detention, 14 December 1916.

Found guilty at Field General Court Martial, 13 January 1917, of being absent without leave, 7.30 am, 18 November, until apprehended by Military Police, 10.00 am, 19 November 1916 and 9.30 am, 19 December, to 9.00 pm, 20 December 1916: sentenced to 21 months' Imprisonment with Hard Labour. Struck off strength of 13th Battalion, 13 January 1917; escorted by Military Police to No 4 Military Prison, Abaucourt, 10 February 1917; released from No 4 Military Prison, 18 February 1918, with remainder of sentence suspended upon release; rejoined unit in the field, 25 February 1918.

Found guilty at Field General Court Martial, 13 May 1918, of being absent from unit, 26 March 1918, to 13 April 1918: sentenced to 2 years' Imprisonment with Hard Labour. Moved out to No 1 Military Prison, 27 May 1918. Disembarked at Southampton under escort, 17 June 1919, and transferred to His Majesty's Military Prison, Gloucester; released from Lewes Detention Barracks, Tidworth, with remainder of sentence remitted upon embarkation for Australia, 13 August 1919.

Commenced return to Australia on HT 'Euripides', 3 September 1919; disembarked Sydney, 24 October 1919. Discharged Sydney, 8 November 1919.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, McDONNELL Thomas