HILL Edward "Tom" Thomas

Edward Thomas known as "Tom" was born c1893 in Willunga, Adelaide, South Australia. Tom must have moved to Western Australia as he enlisted on 27th or 28th of March 1916; gave his address as Albany and his next of kin as his father Richard Hill of Cranbrook. When he enlisted he was 28 years old; single; 5 foot 8 and a half inches tall; 162 pounds and a scar on the back on his head was noted. Tom went with his mate Jack Evans from Albany. Tom chose not to make a will before he left because Jack reckoned he went to ‘look after’ Tom.

Tom left from Fremantle aboard the Miltiades on 9 August 1916. He arrived at the Front in France in December 1916. Apart from a period of leave there are no other notations until March of 1918 when he was admitted to hospital ‘sick’. As his health deteriorated under the conditions, he began to suffer from dermatitis and impetigo and also caught scabies whilst in hospital.

EDWARD "TOM" THOMAS HILL             #!
 

Tom was discharged and returned to the Front. He served at the Western Front, mainly in France. He was on the Somme and told his children of standing water filled trenches for months on end, to sleep they had to prop themselves up against the side of the trench. It was common for soldiers to stand on their tin hats for better elevation.

Tom and his mates went to England on leave a few times. One night, after a few beers at an English pub, they provided assistance to a very well dressed woman who could not unlock her large expensive car nor find her chauffeur. After Tom and his mates unlocked the car, found the driver and assisted her on her way, they received an invitation for dinner at her huge residence. The woman was from the aristocracy. The men arrived in their uniforms and walked over the beautiful carpets with tatty boots and generally felt very out of place despite their welcome. "There were about 10 forks and 10 knives on each side of the plate" said Tom. "We were unsure of which to use, and found that if they put the cutlery down in a certain way their plates were whizzed away by the serving staff!"
 

SOLDIERS IN ENGLISH HOSPITAL 1918             #2
TOM HILL AT FAR RIGHT
 

Tom was impressed with the Salvation Army and always ‘had a lot of time for them after the war’. The Salvos provided dry socks, blankets and soup.  Tom said he was wounded one week before the war ended: “It was my own fault,” he explained “I was being a sticky beak.” He poked his head up out of the trench and caught a bullet which grazed his neck, cheek and nose. He was admitted to Brighton Hospital following a bullet wound to the face where it was found to have damaged his nose and right cheek.

Tom returned on the same ship that he departed on nearly three years earlier – the Miltiades – on 8 January 1919. Tom left Europe and returned to Australia in January 1919, disemabarking at Fremantle in February. Tom was officially discharged in March of that year.

Additional Notes:

Tom’s brother had enlisted as well, but the family lost touch with him since WWI. Some said he married a German girl and stayed in Europe but the family mystery has not yet been solved.

Tom was in the same Battalion and Refs unit as two other Gnowangerup identities: Bob Alderman and Vin McDonald.

Tom married Flo Thompson of Mt Barker. The family are unsure as to how they met but Flo had been nursing at Royal Perth Hospital during WWI.
 

 FLORENCE THOMPSON             #3
 

They had five children –

1. Jack enlisted in WWII but didn’t leave Australia-serving in Queensland and married Jessie (?) a Queenslander.

2. Jean who married John Miller from Bremer Bay

3. Nancy who married who Mick Cheeseright who served in WWII.

4. Marge who married Alwyn Freegard

5. Jessie who married who (?) Ciprian and lives in Perth.
 

Back ; HAROLD HILL, WILLIAM HILL            #4
Front: GEORGE HILL TOM HILL
Seated: RICHARD HILL
 

 RICHARD & ELIZ HILL AT "YARRALENA" CRANBROOK             #5


 

Tom was a member of the VDC in Gnowangerup during WWII, and was a great contributor to RSL activities. He worked on a farm owned by the Thompson family in the Jackitup area.

In 1936 Tom, Sam Stewart (also 51st Bn) and William Brade were in charge of all arrangements for the military functions held for returned soldiers.

Tom suffered from chest weakness from being gassed and problems with his legs and feet from standing for months in water-filled trenches; his doctor advised him to go up North as the drier climate would ease his chest, so he found work on stations around Meekatharra and Nullagine. Tom used his .303 rifle which he had kept from the war and undertook contract shooting of feral donkeys and camels.

Tom was a great friend of Sam Stewart, William Cuneo and often camped at Bremer Bay to go fishing with his 'mates'. He later bought a block of land at Bremer Bay when it was first being opened up and a local farmer gave him a house which he dismantled and re-erected on his block. Tom died c1960 and is buried in Kalgoorlie.

The gun that Tom brought back from WW1 was given to Alwyn Freegard, however it was later stolen.

Every endeavour has been made to accurately record the details however if you would like to provide additional images and/or newer information we are pleased to update the details on this site. Please use CONTACT at the top of this page to email us. We appreciate your involvement in recording the history of our area.

References:                 Article:       Aly\wyn Freegard
                                                   Australian War Memorial  

                                  Image:     1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2023