Thomas William Dee aka Charles Dean

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Thu, 10/09/2015 - 13:17

First Name:

Thomas

Middle Name:

William

Last Name:

Dee

Mother's Name:

Elizabeth May Dee (nee Delahunty)

Father's Name:

Thomas Dee

Date Enlisted:

Wednesday, January 10, 1917

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

Machine Gun Battalion

Company:

24th

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Wednesday, September 26, 1917

Place of Death:

Belgium

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Details:

Thomas Dee (Service No 3489) was born in Bristol, England around 1896 and at some time travelled to Australia.

Thomas enlisted under the name of Charles Dean when he was 21 years old. At this time he was single, employed as a carpenter, and lived at Bulli, N.S.W.

On 9th August 1917 'Charles' advised the Army of his true name.

Thomas embarked from Sydney on HMAT A68 Anchises with the 55th Battalion, 9th Reinforcements on 24th January 1917. He arrived in England on 27th March 1917 but was admitted to hospital on 30th March 1917.

On 5th July 1917 Thomas was transferred to 24th Machine Gun Company, joining them in France on 8th September 1917.

On 26th September 1917 he was at Ypres, Belgium, in Anzac Redoubt. Thomas left the gun pit with the Adjutant and was hit in the back of the neck by a shell splinter and killed instantly.

Thomas is buried at the Hooge Crater Cemetery, Belgium.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, DEE T W