Thomas William EPPS

Regimental number553
Date of birth16 September 1897
Place of birthDartford, Kent, England
SchoolCooling Board School, Kent, England
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationCompositor
Address66 William Street, Norwood, South Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation18
Next of kinMother, Mrs F Epps, 66 William Street, Norwood, South Australia
Enlistment date20 February 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll23 February 1915
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name27th Battalion, C Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/44/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A2 Geelong on 31 May 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal RollCyclists' Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 9 March 1919
Miscellaneous details (Nominal Roll)Nominal Roll records that he returned to Australia per 'Kashmir'. Discharged 25 June 1919.
Family/military connectionsFather: 3809 Pte Henry Branch EPPS, Anzac Cyclists' Bn, returned to Australia, 15 April 1918; Brother: 7483 Pte Cecil Henry EPPS, 10 Bn, returned to Australia, 20 October 1918 (having been badly wounded).~
Other details

Arrived in Australia, 9 July 1912, per 'Beltana'. Entered into an apprenticeship as a compositor with Sands & McDougall from 13 September 1912 (wage: 8/- per week).

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Trained at Ascot Park and Mitcham Camps, 20 February-31 May 1915. Embarked for Egypt, 31 May 1915. Served in Egypt, 15 July - 3 September 1915; Lemnos Island, 4 - 12 September 1915; Gallipoli, 13 September - 15 December 1915 (slightly wounded in the foot by shrapnel, November 1915; out of the line for two days); Lemnos Island, 16 December 1915-8 January 1916; Egypt, 10 January-15 March 1916; France and Belgium, 21 March 1916 - December 1918.

Major battles in France: Pozieres (1916), Bullecourt (1917).

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, victory Medal

Married Ada Matilda STONE, 25 September 1923, St Augustine's Church, Unley, SA. Five children; one son, Charles Thomas EPPS, RAAF, killed in an aircraft accident, Sale, Victoria, 5 June 1943.