Anderson, Thomas Lynwolde
Major Thomas Lynwolde Anderson OBE - Australian Army Medical Corps
Thomas Lynwolde Anderson was born in Geelong Victoria on the 3rd March 1873 to Thomas and Catherine Anderson.
He was educated at Scotch College Melbourne and then went to the University in Melbourne where he studied medicine. He graduated to become a doctor and moved to Western Australia in the 1890's and started a medical practice in Fremantle.
In 1900 he married Mary Jessie Warden in East Fremantle and they would have two children, Colin in 1901 and Ian in 1904.
Thomas was well known in the local Fremantle area an the newspapers of the time record his work in combatting the bubonic plaques outbreaks in Fremantle and Geraldton. He held the position of Plague Officer in Fremantle and in 1904 had travelled to India to study how best to combat the disease. There was an outbreak of Bubonic Plaque in Fremantle in 1906 particularly around Pakenham Street.
His medical practice was situated at 30 Adelaide Street Fremantle. (Property now called 22 Queen Street) He was also a member of the Australian Army Medical Corps in the Citizens Military Forces.
On the 1st May 1915 Thomas enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was accepted as fit for service and was assigned as a Doctor with the rank of Captain to the Australian Army Medical Corps.
Thomas was assigned to the 3rd Australian General Hospital and he embarked from Fremantle Harbour aboard the transport ship RMS Mooltan on the 24th May 1915.
After arriving in England in June 1915, Thomas's family who made the journey with him, set up home in Highgate London and then Thomas and the 3rd AGH was sent to Mudros to set up their hospital.
Thomas would have been kept busy as the unit arrived in time to provide medical care for the August offensives. The 3rd AGH remained here for the rest of the Gallipoli campaign
After the Gallipoli evacuation No.3 Australian General Hospital was re-established at Abbassia in Egypt in early 1916, where it operated for approximately eight months. During this time in Egypt Thomas became a patient at his own hospital when he fell ill with dysentery.
Fortunately he soon recovered from the worst effects, as the unit then moved to England and the 3rd AGH then operated the Kitchener War Hospital at Brighton, England from October 1916, however Thomas was still suffering from gastric issues and was admitted to the 4th general Hospital in London.
In April 1917 Thomas moved with the 3rd AGH to Abbeville, France. In September 1917 Thomas was promoted to Major and was then sent to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harfield. He served at No.1 AGH for the rest of the war.
On the 8th October 1919 Thomas and his family left England aboard the transport ship Benalla and set sail for home, disembarking in Albany on the 18th November 1919.
He was discharged from the AIF on the 19th January 1920.
For his services during the Great War Thomas was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. (OBE)
Sadly his wife Mary died on the 15 May 1924 and Thomas then married Victoria Mary Cameron in 1928. From 1927 to 1930 he was medical superintendent at the Perth Hospital. Thomas Anderson died at Perth on 14th September 1952 aged 79. He was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.
The State Library of Victoria has the scanned images of Thomas's very interesting Photo Album from the Great War.