VIRTUE, Thomas Smith
| Service Number: | 478 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 27 August 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 1st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Glasgow, Scotland, May 1891 |
| Home Town: | Drummoyne, Canada Bay, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Shields Rd School, Glasgow, Scotland |
| Occupation: | Ironworker |
| Died: | Pneumonia, 3rd Scottish General Hospital, Stobhill, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom, 9 December 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Glasgow Western Necropolis, Scotland Row N, Grave No. 1 Inscription on his headstone. With Jesus Which Is Far Better |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Balmain Rowing Club Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 27 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 478, 1st Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 478, 1st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 18 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 478, 1st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Sydney | |
| 29 Apr 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 478, 1st Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, GSW arm | |
| 2 Sep 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 478, 1st Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, GSW to head |
Help us honour Thomas Smith Virtue's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland
Died on this date – 9th December…… Private Thomas Smith Virtue was born at Kinning Park, Glasgow, Scotland in May, 1891.
According to information supplied by his sister, Ella M. Brown, for the Roll of Honour – Thomas Smith Virtue came to Australia when he was 17 years old.
Thomas Smith Virtue enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 27th August, 1914 as a 23 year old, single, Ironworker from (care of Mrs Brown) 69 Thompson Street, Drummoyne, NSW.
Private Thomas Smith Virtue embarked from Sydney, NSW on HMAT Afric (A19) on 18th October, 1914 with the 1st Infantry Battalion “D” Company.
On 5th April, 1915 Private Virtue embarked from Alexandria on Troop ship Minnewaska to join M.E.F. (Mediterranean Expeditionary Force) for the Gallipoli Campaign.
Private Thomas Smith Virtue was wounded at Gallipoli between 25th & 29th April, 1915. He was admitted to No. 1 General Hospital at Heliopolis on 30th April, 1915 with gunshot wounds to arm. Private Virtue was discharged to Zeitoun Base Details from Helouan on 8th June, 1915, fit for duty. He was admitted to Helouan Convalescent Hospital on 19th June, 1915 with bullet wound to arm & discharged to duty on 29th June, 1915 & rejoined his Battalion at Gallipoli on 13th July, 1915.
On 11th August, 1915 Private Virtue was accompanying Major Kindon, (wounded) to Hospital.
He was written up for a Crime on 2nd September, 1915 at Mustapha – for being drunk in town on 24th August, 1915 & was fined 5/-.
Private Virtue was recorded as having a gunshot wound to head & being discharged to duty from Military Hospital at Ras-el-Tin on 2nd September, 1915. He reported to Overseas Base Depot from Ras-el-Tin on 4th September, 1915.
On 4th October, 1915 Private Virtue was written up for a Crime at Alexandria - 1. Absent without leave from 10 pm on 29th September, 1915 till 10.30 pm on 29th September, 1915; 2. Being improperly dressed & 3. Breaking away from escort. He was awarded 28 days detention.
He was transferred from Australian Overseas Base to Detention at Cairo on 4th October, 1915 then on 7th October, 1915 he was admitted to No. 1 Auxiliary Hospital at Heliopolis with “Kidneys & Liver” (War Gratuity Schedule records “Kidney trouble & Nerves” & admitted to Luna Park Hospital) & then transferred to Australian & New Zealand Convalescent Camp at Helouan on 16th October, 1915. Private Virtue was discharged to Base at Zeitoun on 21st October, 1915.
Private Virtue was admitted to Hospital at Abbassia on 3rd November, 1915 & discharged to Details on 23rd November, 1915.
On 19th February, 1916 Private Virtue was reported to be with No. 1 Training Battalion at Aerodrome Camp, Heliopolis. (According to a letter written to Senator Pearce in May, 1916, by Mrs E. Brown, sister of Pte T. S. Virtue, stating that her brother had only received two letters from her since he had joined with the first contingent & the last word she had received from him was that he was acting as Pay Corporal, 1st Training Battalion at Aerodrome Camp, Heliopolis. She also stated that her brother had been “wounded at the landing & he was also at the Lone Pine engagement”.)
He was admitted to No. 9 Stationary Hospital at Marseilles on 17th May, 1916 from H.M.T. Caledonian & was discharged on 8th June, 1916. He reported to 1st Australian Divisional Base Depot at Etaples, France on 15th June, 1916.
Private Virtue was promoted to Acting Corporal at Base Depot with extra duty pay from 1st August, 1916. Acting Corporal Thomas Smith Virtue reverted to the rank of Private on 5th November, 1916 & ceased to draw extra duty pay at 1st Australian Divisional Base Depot.
On 23rd November, 1916 Private Virtue was on furlough to England. He was admitted to 3rd Scottish General Hospital, Stobhill, Glasgow, Scotland on 30th November, 1916, severely sick, whilst on furlough. Private Virtue was reported to be dangerously & seriously ill at 3rd General Hospital, Glasgow on 1st December, 1916.
Private Thomas Smith Virtue died at 7.15 pm on 9th December, 1916 at 3rd Scottish General Hospital, Stobhill, Glasgow, Scotland from Pneumonia.
He was buried in Western Necropolis Cemetery, Glasgow, Scotland where 10 other WW1 Australian Soldiers are buried.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/-western-necropolis.html
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