Cleary, Thomas Cecil

No.3028 – Private Thomas Cecil Cleary MM – 51^st Battalion AIF

Thomas Cecil Cleary was born in Sydney New South Wales in 1893 to Thomas and Jane Cleary. The family soon moved to Western Australia and took up residence in Fremantle, residing at 8 Bay Street (renamed Elder Place in 1926)  Fremantle before moving to 166 South Terrace. Thomas was educated at Christian Brothers College and after leaving school took up work as a labourer.

In July 1915 Thomas went to the Perth recruitment office and offered his services to the AIF. He was accepted as fit and was found to be 5 feet 6 inches in height; weight of 138 lbs; chest measurement of 34-36 inches; fair complexion; blue eyes and light brown hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic. He was allotted to the 10^th Reinforcements to the 11^th Battalion and trained with them in WA until October 1915. On the 13^th October he left Fremantle aboard the transport ship H.M.A.T “Themistocles” and the ship made its way to Egypt. Arriving in Egypt in November 1915, Thomas was not sent on to Gallipoli to join the 11^th Battalion as plans were underway to evacuate the peninsula, so he remained in the Infantry depot for the remainder of 1915.

In early 1916 the 11^th Battalion returned to Egypt, and Thomas was officially taken on strength on the 7^th January. He trained with the 11^th Battalion until the end of February 1916 for on the 1^st March he was transferred to B Company of the newly forming 51^st Battalion AIF. This battalion trained in Egypt until the end of May 1916, when they then made their way to Alexandria. They departed on a transport ship bound for France on the 5^th June 1916, arriving at Marseilles on the 12^th June.

After arriving in France the 51^st Battalion were sent north to Armentieres, though their stay here was short and they were soon sent to the Somme. The Australians had previously taken Pozieres and the 4^th Division came in to the line to further the gains made. Thomas was just near the line when he was diagnosed with mumps. On the 12^th August he was evacuated sick and sent to the 14^th Stationary Hospital at Boulogne. On the 23^rd August he was evacuated to England with Trench Nephritis, being admitted to Shornecliffe Military Hospital, and then Bevan Military Hospital. He stayed in England for the rest of 1916 as his condition was not improving. On the 29^th January 1917 he was sent to the 2^nd Auxiliary Hospital, where he was passed as fit. He was given a period of furlough and was then ordered to report to the Military depot at Weymouth. Here he was placed on a draft for France on the 18^th March 1917.

On the 24^th March 1917 Thomas marched into the 4^th Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples, though his stay here was short as he joined the 51^st Battalion on the 4^th April 1917. Thomas remained with his unit until the 26^th May 1917 when he reported sick. He was sent back to the 13^th Field Ambulance and subsequently the 50^th CCS where he was diagnosed as having scabies. He stayed here for a short time but rejoined the 51^st Battalion on the 6^th June 1917 and served with them in the Messines battle. On the 21^st July he once again reported sick, on this occasion he had tonsillitis, though was only away for 7 days.

Thomas spent the next few months with the 51^st and served at the Third Battle of Ypres in September/October 1917. He survived the actions and was subsequently awarded the Military Medal for bravery. The official recommendation reads;

“In operations near Broodseinde on night of October 10^th 1917, when his Company was moving up to the front line it was dispersed by heavy shell fire and this man did splendid work in assisting to collect the Company, and finding that all guides had become casualties he at once volunteered to act as a guide and successfully guided his Company to its position in the front line. Afterwards returning he guided the ration parties to the various posts. All this was carried out under heavy shell fire and at great personal risk. He was evacuated to hospital suffering from exposure on the 14^th October. His unfailing courage and ready assistance set a splendid example to others”.

Thomas was evacuated to hospital and on the 17^th October was embarked for England. He was admitted to Edmonton Military Hospital and then the 3^rd Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford. After his condition improved he was given a period of furlough from 24^th November to 8^th December 1917 after which time he reported to Sutton Veny camp.

He stayed in camp until the end of January 1918, as on the 1^st February Thomas departed Southampton for France. After arrival he spent time at the Australian Infantry depot at Le Havre and rejoined the 51^st Battalion on the 10^th February 1918. On the 3^rd March Thomas reported sick and was sent to hospital with pyrexia of unknown origin. Sent to No.54 General Hospital his condition was serious enough for transfer to England where he was diagnosed with Trench Fever. Thomas was admitted to a Military Hospital at Eastbourne and then to the 3^rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Hurdcott. On the 18^th May 1918 Thomas marched into the 3^rd Training Battalion on the Salisbury Plains where he was soon assessed as fit enough to go back to France. On the 12^th June he left Folkestone and after arriving in France was marched into the Australian Infantry Base Depot at Le Havre. Thomas rejoined the 51^st Battalion on the 19^th June 1918 and spent the next two months with the unit.

On the 8^th August 1918 the large British offensive from Amiens was launched and all the Australian divisions were involved. The Germans were being steadily pushed back though on the 13^th August Thomas was killed in action. A fellow soldier of the 51^st Battalion wrote that;

 “When near Cerissy, Cleary was sent to take some Americans up to part of the front line. It transpired afterwards that he guided them to the right spot but lost his way when coming back. As he did not return a search party went out next day and found Cleary dead in debatable ground, with a shell wound in the chest. He was brought down to the Battalion’s lines and informant saw him on the Stretcher”.

Thomas was given a battlefield burial and the position was marked. After the war the imperial war graves parties came through and exhumed Thomas and reburied him at Heath Cemetery Harbonnieres in plot VII.A.7