Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Carl (Grummit) Eric Thomas was born in Townsville on the 21st January 1905.

He married Amy Caroline WRIGHT, the daughter of William WRIGHT and Maren HOMMELGAARD on 26 April 1933, their three children were born in Cairns, Neville (1935), Clyde (1937) and Vivian (1939).

In World War II Carl enlisted in the Voluntary Defence Corps (VDC) 17th Battalion, Home Guard on 20th January 1942. His registration number was Q116184 which is occupation given as Builders Labourer living at 112 Mulgrave Road and religious affiliation Methodist. He had served with the 51st Battalion Cadets for a period of five years. No certificate for entry to Secondary School was noted on his Mobilization Attestation Form which indicates that he left school before the age of 14. His height was given as 5 foot 9 or 10 inches, hair either brown or black, eyes brown and complexion dark.

Carl was promoted to Lance Corporal in July 1942 while serving in Cairns. He was promoted to Acting Corporal in September and transferred to the VDC Headquarters in Brisbane. Then he was mobilised for special duties at Karumba. The rank of Corporal was confirmed on 30th January 1943. In September of that year Carl was transferred to the 23rd Regiment and stationed at Charters Towers until April 1944.

During his time in Charters Towers, his wife Amy took the children to Clermont for a short period, later moving to Randwick Street, Rockhampton in June 1944. Amy did not return to live with Carl. Between April and June 1944 Carl was station on Thursday Island. Carls enlistment ended on 1 January 1945.

Carl returned to Cairns, where his three boys lived with him for some time at 110 Buchan Street, Cairns, next to his sister, Ella at 112. Carls worked as a dogman at Cairns Timber Limited after the wars (the duty of a dogman was to ride the logs which were being shifted by a role attached to a crane and direct the crane drive with hand signals where to positon the log. When Carl’s health did not allow him to care for his three sons any longer, they went to live with their mother and half-sister in Rockhampton.

Carl spent the last years of his short live living at his brothers (Paddy) property in Hoare Street, in a little hut he had built. On 29 July 1950 at the age of 45 Carl died from Bright’s Disease (Kidney failure) which was suspected due to overuse of Bex powders.