Returned ANZACs,
Territory ANZACs,
First World War, 1914-1918,
Place of birth
Port Wakefield (S.A.),
Place of enlistment
Keswick (S.A.),
Date of enlistment
1915-02-19,
Age
21,
Occupation
Railway motor driver,
Service
Australian Imperial Force,
Unit
27th Battalion, D Company,
Rank
Lance Corporal,
Service number
759,
Next of kin
Margaret Cain - Mother ; Hergott Springs, S.A.,
Date of death
1929-04-21,
Place of death
Crystal Brook (S.A.),
Biographical notes
Thomas Cain arrived in Port Darwin on ss ‘Changsa’ on 29 June 1898 with his wife Margaret Cain and five of their youngest children (Cyril Francis, Olive Mary, (Arthur) Norman, James (Jim) Laurence & Roy Augustine) to take up a position with the Palmerston – Pine Creek Railway. John Michael and Joseph joined them at a later date. Thomas was to spend fourteen years working as the District Maintenance Foreman before leaving to take up a similar position with the Great Northern Railway at Hergott Springs, South Australia in 1912. Another child, Leo was born in 1900. The family quickly integrated itself within the community, due largely to the musical abilities of Thomas and at least four of the children, performing at events with the Palmerston Musical and Dramatic Society. The children participated in fancy dress parades, and as they matured, joined various sporting clubs such as the Palmerston Cricket club and Palmerston Rifle Club. When war was declared four of the boys enlisted: Joseph, (Arthur) Norman, Cyril Francis and James Laurence better known as Jim who was the only one killed in action.,
History
Embarked Adelaide on board HMAT A2 'Geelong' on 31 May 1915. Cyril was visited by Norman in hospital after he was injured. Returned to Australia 14 January 1919.,
Subject
World War, 1914-1918,
Northern Territory,
Australia. Army. Australian and New Zealand Army Corps,
History,
ANZAC,
Related links
http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=3184133&I=1&SE=1,
http://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/items/ACCNUM_LARGE/RCDIG1067588/RCDIG1067588--325-.JPG,
http://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/nominal_rolls/first_world_war/page/R1559053/,
http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/awm4/23/44/,
http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/5719473,
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3278117,
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3275416,
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article87459486,
http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/awm4/23/44/ [Unit War Diary],
http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/5719473 [The blue and brown diamond: History of the 27th Battalion (A.I.F.) on active service by W. Dollman and H.M. Skinner. Adelaide : Lonnen & Cope, 1921.],
http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=3184133&I=1&SE=1 [Service Record],
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3278117 ["Soldiers letters", Northern Territory Times and Gazette, 16 March 1916: p.15.],
http://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/items/ACCNUM_LARGE/RCDIG1067588/RCDIG1067588--325-.JPG [Embarkation Roll - HMAT A2 'Geelong'],
http://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/nominal_rolls/first_world_war/page/R1559053/ [Nominal Roll],
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article87459486 ["Family Notices", Chronicle, 25 April 1929: p. 43.],
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3275416 ["Soldiers' Letters from the Front." Northern Territory Times and Gazette, 18 Nov 1915: p.18.],
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3291651["Personal", Northern Territory Times and Gazette, 21 September, 1918: p. 17.],