Green, Thomas Claude

847 Private Thomas Claude Green - 44th Battalion

Thomas Claude Green was born in Fremantle WA on the 1st July 1897 to Frederick and Lucy Green. He had several siblings, Albert (1891), Percy (1892) Frederick (1893), Ellen (1894), Charles (1902), Kenneth (1908) and Kingsley (1908).

Sadly, his father Frederick died in Fremantle in 1910, which left his mother to bring up the family.

The family lived in Swan Street North Fremantle and Tom was educated at North Fremantle Primary School.

Afre leaving school Tom began working at a local warehouse as a storeman. During this time he was serving with the Naval Cadets and continued on as a member of the Royal Australia Naval Reserve.

On the 25th January 1916 Tom enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force and was passed as fit for enlistment. The medical examiner recorded Tom's physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 7 & 1/2 inches tall;

Weight - 124lbs;

Chest Measurement - 30-34 inches;

Complexion - Fair;

Eyes - Brown;

Hair - Brown.

Upon his successful enlistment Tom was sent to Claremont Showgrounds Camp and was assigned to the 44th Battalion AIF. He spent the next few months training with this group in WA.

Prior to his departure overseas, Tom and Percy who was training at Blackboy Hill Camp with the 28th Battalion reinforcements were able to have a photo taken together for the family (pictured below - Percy on left and Tom on right)

Tom and the 44th Battalion departed from Fremantle Harbour on the 6th June 1916 aboard the transport ship Suevic. The ship then set sail for England reaching Plymouth on the 21st June 1916.

The men were then disembarked and sent to the 3rd Australian Division training ground on the Salisbury Plains. Tom and the 44th Battalion trained there for the next few months in preparation of being sent to the Western Front.

On the 25th November 1916 the 44th Battalion departed from Southampton for France. The 44th Battalion were sent to the Armentieres region where they would have their first experience of trench life of the Western Front. On the 4th December 1916 he was sent to hospital ill with pleurisy, though rejoined the 44th Battalion on the 12th December.

On the 30th January 1917, Tom was wounded accidentally when he and others were trying to undo a nosecap of an unexploded shell but he remained on duty.

In March 1917 the 44th Battalion moved to the Ploegsteert sector of Southern Belgium. They would be here for the next few months while they prepared for the upcoming Battle of Messines in June 1917.

Tom survived the Messines battle but on the 20th June 1917 was sent to hospital ill. He was diagnosed with a PUO or Pyrexia of Unknown Origin. Tom was away from his unit for several weeks, eventually rejoining the 44th Battalion on the 7th August 1917.

In September 1917 the 44th Battalion moved to Ypres where they would take part in the current offensive taking place. The 44th Battalion fought at Broodseinde Ridge, Zonnebeke and Passchendaele through October and November 1917. Tom came through these actions safely but on the 30th October 1917 was sent to hospital suffering from tonsilitis.

He was away in hospital for nearly two months, returning to the 44th Battalion on the 26th December 1917.

On the 24th January 1918 Tom was granted a two week furlough to England, however while he was returning Tom fell ill and was admitted to hospital in Le Havre. Tom spent the next few months in hospital, and when hew as recovering from his first bout of illness, in March 1918 he then came down ill with influenza. By the 28th April 1918 he had recovered and was sent to No.1 Convalescent Depot Camp. He spent two months at the convalescent camp at Le Havre recovering his health.

On the 27th June 1918 he was sent to the Australian Infantry Base Depot at Rouelles, but three days later he fell ill again and was diagnosed with otitis media. He remained at the 2nd General Hospital at Le Havre till the 27th July 1918, when he returned to the Base Depot Camp.

His health was now reclassified as not yet fit to return to his unit so for the next few months Tom was at the 1st Convalescent Camp at Le Havre and was still there when the Armistice was announced in November 1918.

On the 15th December 1918 Tom returned to England and upon arrival he was sent to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth. Tom would remain here while waiting to be assigned a berth on a ship home.

On the 3rd March 1919 Tom boarded the transport shup Euripides and set sail for Western Australia, reaching Fremantle on the 19th April 1919.

Tom went to No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle for a medical check up and was discharged from the AIF on the 5th June 1919.

On his return from the war Tom found employment as a Clerk and was living with the family in Swan Street North Fremantle

In 1925 in Perth he married Lillian May Dans and they would have a daughter Thelma in 1934. After being married the family moved to Yeovil Street in Bicton and he was now working as a warehouseman. They lived at Yeovil Street till the 1980's.

Tom died on the 4th July 1985 aged 88. He was cremated at Fremantle Cemetery.