Evan David Thomas
Name: Evan David Thomas
Service Number: 1550
Place of Birth: Murray Bridge
Date of Birth: 23 July 1884
Place of Enlistment: Broadmeadows, Victoria
Date of Enlistment: 20 October 1916
Age at Enlistment: 29 years 2 months
Marital Status: Married
Next of Kin: Wife – Doris Gertrude Thomas
Occupation: Locomotive Fireman, South Australian Railways.
Religion: Roman Catholic
Rank: Corporal
Involvement with West Adelaide Football Club: Player number 124, Evan played four games in 1902.
Biographical details:
From 20 October 1916 to 15 November Evan undertook basic training at 2nd Depot, Mitcham, South Australia. He attended Musketry School as a private from 16 November to 30 November. From 9 May 1917, Evan did basic training with the Artillery unit as a bombardier at Broadmeadows, Victoria, prior to joining the 4th Railway Unit on 10 April. On 11 May his unit left Melbourne, disembarking at Plymouth, England on 19 July. He was sent to France from Southampton on 4 October. Evan was hospitalised in France due to illness from 17 June to 7 July. He returned to Australia on the Borda on 23 June 1919 and was discharged on 24 July 1919.
Evan David “Ted” Thomas was a master pianist and champion sculler. “Ted” was a member of the 1924 Australian rowing team from Murray Bridge, known as “The Cods”. He died on 4 March 1943.
SOURCE: NAA: B2455: Thomas Evan David: Barcode 3001506.
Submitted 22 October 2023
by christopher collins
