Thomas, George Edward
No.3939 – Private George Thomas – 51st Battalion AIF
George Edward Thomas was born in Fremantle in 1898 to John and Emily Thomas. He had a older sister called Cherry born in 1890. He was educated at Fremantle Boys School and after leaving he took up work as a Telegraph Messenger. During this time George served in the Naval Cadets and prior to the Great War he took up employment as a sailor.
On the 21st October 1915 he left his parents house in 41 Silas Street South Fremantle (now 16 McLaren Street) and travelled up to Perth where he enlisted in the AIF at the Francis Street Drill Hall. He was only 17 at the time but put his age up a year to enlist and was successful in this.
The medical examiner found George to be 5 feet 7 & ½ inches tall; weight of 155 lbs; chest measurement of 33-36 inches; sallow complexion; blue eyes and fair hair. From his time as a sailor George also had several tattoos; clasped hands and ship on one arm; flag and clasped hands on the other arm; plus the coat of arms and advance Australia on forearm.
Upon his successful enlistment George was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was allotted to No.34 Training Depot. After a few days he was transferred to “D” Company of No.4 Depot where he remained until the 16th December 1915. George was then assigned to the 9th Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion AIF. He trained with this group in WA for the next eight weeks while they waited for their departure orders to arrive. These finally came through and on the 12th February 1916 George and his group boarded the HMAT Miltiades and set sail for Egypt.
They arrived in Egypt in early March 1916 and after being disembarked were sent to the 7th Training battalion at Serapeum Camp. George would only remain here for a few weeks and instead of joining the 28th Battalion he was taken on strength of the 51st Battalion on the 2nd April 1916. He would train with his new unit in Egypt until the end of May 1916. Their embarkation orders then arrived and the battalion proceeded to Alexandria where they boarded the HMT Ivernia and set sail for France, arriving at Marseilles on the 12th June 1916.
George, with the 51st Battalion was then marched through the city to the railway station where they boarded trains which took them to the Armentieres region of Northern France. They were billeted and then taken up to the front lines near Fleurbaix to have their first taste of trench life on the Western Front. The 51st Battalion remained here until mid July and suffered over a hundred casualties to the German artillery.
After being relieved by the 5th Australian Division at Fleurbaix, the 4th Division began their move to the Somme. The 1st Australian Division had captured Pozieres on the 23rd July, and was in turn relieved by the 2nd Division who furthered the gains. Around the 5th August the 4th Division went into the line at Pozieres though George and the 51st Battalion would not go into the line until the 13th August. They participated in an unsuccessful assault on Mouquet Farm, though George came through unscathed.
On the 3rd September 1916 the 51st Battalion again assaulted the Mouquet Farm position and managed to capture a large section of the farm but were unsupported on their flanks which meant that the Germans were able to surround them and forced the survivors to surrender. At some point during this action George was killed in action but was initially posted as missing.
On the 3rd March 1917 a report came in from the Grave registration unit that a report had been sent by a Major R. Allen of the 11th British Division that George’s body had been found and was buried by troops of his division in the vicinity of Mouquet Farm. Unfortunately no map reference was given and after the war his grave could not be located and he is thus commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.
His parents would receive his personal effects and medals. George’s uncle William Thomas Young served in the war with the 12th Battalion AIF and was decorated with the DCM & MM and survived the war.