Sapper Thomas Magee

SAPPER THOMAS MAGEE 1166 – Australian Mining Corps

Born in Belfast, County Down, Ireland, Thomas Magee completed an Application to Enlist in the Australian Imperial Force at Kalgoorlie on 17 October 1915, giving his postal address as ‘Trans Continental’. A medical examination on the same day found him to be ‘fit for active service’ and recorded that he was 42 years and 5 months of age, stood 5ft 9ins tall, weighed 168 lbs, had a medium complexion, brown eyes and brown hair.

He signed the ‘Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad’ and the Oath to ‘well and truly serve’ on 17 October 1915 at Blackboy Hill, Western Australia.

A Miner and Navvy by trade, he named as his Next-of-Kin his sister Phoebe Magee of Larchfield, County Down, Ireland.

Based at 33 Depot Battalion from 23 October, he was appointed to the No.3 Company of the Miners Battalion on 13 December 1915 at Blackboy Hill, by Lt Leslie Coulter. In December 1915 2nd Lieut. Coulter had been sent from N.S.W. to W.A. to recruit members for the Mining Corps and returned to Sydney on the S.S. Indarra on 26 December with 274 recruits for the 3rd Company.

Thomas Magee died 26 January 1916 of pneumonia at the Field Hospital, Liverpool Camp, New South Wales.

A cable was received at the Australian Military Office in Horseferry Road, Westminster, England on 28 January from Defence Melbourne asking that the Next-of-Kin be informed.

The Office replied on 6 March advising a change of address for the Next-of-Kin.

“ Cemetery Road 8.3.1916 Sir, I have just received the sad news of my brothers death Pte Thomas Magee Miners Batt Australian Imperial Force, who died of pneumonia at Liverpool Camp New South Wales on Jan 26th 1916.

I have been directed to write to you for further information and for the disposal of his effects. I should so much like to hear from a comrade or someone who was with my poor brother at the end. &oblige Yours truly Phoebe George Mrs George Cemetery road Gillingham Dorcetshire, England ”

The following report by the O.C. Field Hospital Liverpool was forwarded to the Camp Adjutant, Liverpool on 30 May 1916:

“The deceased was admitted to Field Hospital Liverpool on the 15/1/16 and died of pneumonia on the 26/1/16. He was buried with full Military honours at the Church of England Cemetery, Liverpool on the 27/1/16. The Church of England Chaplain, Captain Richmond, officiated at the grave. Captain Richmond was in constant attendance with the deceased for two days prior to his death. No personal belongings were brought to Field Hospital.” Base Records Melbourne were informed on 2 June 1916 that no trace could be found of any personal effects.

The Memorial Plaque and Memorial Scroll (596628) were forwarded to London in February 1923 for issue to Mrs. P. George.

Thomas Magee was not entitled to any war medals and his Next-of-Kin was not eligible to receive the pamphlet “Where The Australians Rest”.

Sapper Thomas Magee's name is on Memorial Panel "27" in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial. His Grave/memorial reference for Pioneers' Memorial Park, Liverpool N.S.W. is "C.E. 2. 2. 59 (GRM/2*)"

This photograph is of the memorial plaque of Sapper Thomas Magee. It is placed on the Soldiers Wall at the Office of Australian War Graves, Rookwood Cemetery, N.S.W.

Pioneers' Memorial Park in Liverpool was originally called St Lukes Cemetery. In 1970 the old cemetery was converted into a rest park, featuring some of the original headstones and a memorial wall.

The Folder entitled "World War One Servicemen interred in St Luke's Cemetery, Liverpool N.S.W" was donated to Liverpool City Library by Mrs Anne Boyce.

Our thanks go to Mrs. Boyce and the Liverpool City Library for preserving this record.

1166 Sapper Thomas Magee is unremembered in Australia – except by those reading this profile.

LEST WE FORGET