Thomas Aitchison

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Tue, 18/10/2016 - 10:23

First Name:

Thomas

Last Name:

Aitchison

Date Enlisted:

Monday, March 27, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

45th Battalion

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Details:

Thomas Aitchison (Service No 2371) was born in Glasgow, Scotland.

At enlistment Thomas was 44 years old, single, worked as a miner and lived in Corrimal, N.S.W. He named his sister, Miss Agnes Atchison, of Glasgow as his next of kin. Thomas had 14 years previous military experience in Scotland: 2 years with 2nd Battalion Scottish Rifles, 8 years Volunteers, Glasgow and 4 years Medical Corps, Glasgow.

Thomas embarked from Sydney on HMAT A68 Anchises with 5th Reinforcements, 45th Battalion, on 24th August 1916 and arrived in England on 11th October 1916. He joined the 45th Battalion in France on 1st January 1917 and saw service on the Western Front at Bullecourt and Messines.

Thomas was wounded in action at Messines on 7th June 1917 and evacuated to hospital in England for treatment of gun shot wounds to his face, left hand and right thigh. He recovered from his wounds but did not return to 45th Battalion. He was transferred to Australian Auxilliary Hospital on 4th May 1918 and served there until he returned to Australia in October 1919.

Thomas was discharged from the AIF on 16th January 1920.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, AITCHISON T