Assan, Thomas

No.7262 – Private Thomas Assan – 51^st Battalion AIF

Thomas was born in Geraldton in February 1892 to William and Elizabeth Assan. He was educated at the Geraldton State School and after completing his education he moved to Fremantle where he took up employment as a Lumper. According to his service record it appears that Tom was married prior to the Great War and he lived with his wife Alice at 46 James Street Fremantle. Tom tried to enlist early in the Great War but he was rejected due to being overweight. However he tried again as on the 27^th November 1917 he presented himself to the Fremantle Drill Hall where he enlisted in the AIF. This time he was accepted as fit with the medical examiner listing Tom’s physical attributes as; Height of 5 feet 3 inches, weight of 186lbs; chest measurement of 39-41 inches; dark complexion; brown eyes and black hair.

Upon his successful enlistment Tom was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to No.D3 Depot where he learnt the basics of soldiering. On the 21^st January 1918 Tom was transferred to the 22^nd Reinforcements to the 28^th Battalion AIF. This group embarked from Fremantle aboard the RMS Ormonde on the 13^th March 1918. During the voyage Tom fell ill so he was put into the ships hospital and was disembarked at Suez where he was sent into the Government Hospital.

Tom re-embarked at Alexandria on the 30^th April 1918, arriving at Southampton on the 15^th May 1918. He was sent to the 5^th Training Battalion at Fovant. He trained here for a few weeks and on the 5^th June 1918 he was struck down by measles so was sent to the 3^rd New Zealand General Hospital. He was returned to the training depot on the 21^st June but on the 4^th July he reported sick with bronchitis. He recovered after a few weeks and was returned to the training depot.

Tom proceeded to France on the 6^th September 1918 and after a few days in the Australian Infantry Base Depot he joined the 51^st Battalion on the 13^th September 1918. Tom served with the 51^st Battalion at their last ever engagement on the Western Front in the drive on the Hindenburg Line. He came through this action unscathed and through October the 51^st Battalion rested out of the line.

In November the 51^st Battalion were just beginning to prepare for a return to action when the Armistice was announced. Tom remained with his unit and they were soon sent to what had been German occupied Belgium. On the 18^th January 1919 Tom was appointed a Driver for the Battalion Transport section. He remained in Belgium until the 20^th May 1919 as the Battalions of the AIF were winding up and ceasing to exist.

On the 21^st May 1919 Tom marched into Hurdcott Camp in England to await a berth on a ship home. He boarded the City of Exeter and journeyed home, disembarking in Fremantle on the 12^th August 1919.

After being discharged from the AIF Tom resumed his work on Fremantle wharf as a Lumper. He remarried in 1924 to Florence Gregory and they had several children; Thomas (1922), Albert (1924), Elizabeth (1925), Thelma (1926), Reginald (1928) and Leslie (1931)

Florence had been previously married; having two children of her own, Alfred and Eileen Gregory who became step-children to Thomas.

Thomas Assan died in 1933 in Fremantle Hospital and is buried in Fremantle Cemetery.

Their eldest son Thomas served in WW2 with the Australian Army Medical Corps (WX28565) and was discharged in 1946; while Albert served in the home forces with regimental No.W46673.