THOROGOOD, Owen

Owen’s birth in 1895 was registered at Bingara NSW. He was the fourth child born to Edwin and Sarah Thorogood. At the age of nineteen Owen enlisted at Inverell in December 1915 with his Father giving consent for his son to serve overseas. Owen joined other district volunteers to form the First Contingent of the Kurrajongs who left Inverell together in January 1916.

He became a member of the 33rd Battalion, D Company which trained at Armidale and Rutherford prior to sailing from Australia on HMAT A74 Marathon in May 1916. He arrived in England after a voyage of nine weeks and continued training at Salisbury Plain before being attached to 15 Platoon, Lewis Gun Team and sent to France in November.

Owen took part in the Battle of Messines Ridge and then admitted to hospital on 7 June. Two days later he was sent to the 9th Field Ambulance then transferred to the 53rd Casualty Clearing Station. Owen was ill with pneumonia, returned to England and admitted to Southern General Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham. He was later transferred to 3 Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford. Following his discharge from hospital he was attached for duty to Tidsworth School of Musketry in December 1917. The following year he had further health problems whilst at Tidworth.

He returned to Australia and was medically discharged in March 1919. Upon arrival home Owen was given a welcome home function at Dinton Vale and his friends presented him with a keepsake. In 1920 he married Hilda Marchant. He died at Inverell in 1944.

Private Thorogood has his name inscribed on the Inverell Honor Roll and the Honor Roll at the Nullamanna Hall.

Photo: private collection