WELLS, Thomas Saunders

When Thomas enlisted he gave his age as twenty eight and occupation as Wallaby Shooter from Elsmore NSW.  His service records show his parents as William and Louisa Wells of Inverell. Thomas joined with other district men to become one of the First Contingent of The Kurrajongs.

He became a member of the 33rd Battalion, C Company which trained Armidale and Rutherford prior to sailing from Australia in May 1916 on HMAT A74 Marathon.  Nine weeks later they arrived in England where further training was undertaken before the Battalion was sent to France in November. 

During April 1918 Thomas was gassed, admitted to 5 Casualty Clearing Station and then invalided to England where he was admitted to Royal Victoria Hospital at Netley for treatment.  A few months later he returned to Australia on HMAT Boonah and was medically discharged in August 1919.

He married and lived most of the rest of his life in the Warialda district until his death at Tingha in 1960.

Photo: Courtesy IDFHG