Information about birth

Year of birth:
1882
Place of birth:
Richmond, Victoria, Australia

General information

Last known residence:
Richmond, Victoria, Australia
Profession:
Compositor
Religion:
Church of England

Army information

Country:
Australia
Force:
Australian Imperial Force
Rank:
Private
Service number:
5796
Enlistment date:
25/05/1916
Enlistment place:
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Units:
 —  Australian Infantry, 22nd Bn. (Victoria)  (Last known unit)

Information about death

Date of death:
23/09/1917
Place of death:
Zonnebeke Château Grounds, Zonnebeke, Belgium
Cause of death:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Age:
35

Memorial

Distinctions and medals 2

Points of interest 4

#1 Place of birth
#2 Last known residence
#3 Enlistment place
#4 Place of death (approximate)

My story

Thomas Frazer, a former compositor, was born in May 1882 in Richmond, Victoria, Australia. He was married to Mrs Rose Ethel Frazor and had two children. On May 25, 1916 he enlisted in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT A71 Nestor on October 2, 1916, with the 16th reinforcements of the 22nd Battalion, part of the 6th Australian Brigade of the 2nd Australian Division.

On September 20, 1917 the successful battle of Menin Road was fought, The Battalion being in reserve at Belgian Chateau, where an extraordinary aeroplane accident was witnessed. On the September 21, the Battalion relieved two Battalions of the 7th Brigade near Hanebeke Wood. Hostile shelling was heavy and continuous, and casualties were numerous. On September 23, the Battalion moved back to Dominion Camp.

Thomas, aged 35, died on September 22/23, 1917. He was not feeling well at the front line, and was brought back to a pill-box to sit down and recover. However, he later died there of heart failure. Private Frazer was mentioned on a cross south of Zonnebeke Lake (28.D.28.a.40.20); it is not known where he was buried (possibly near Anzac House according to his files). His remains were not recovered or identified after the war. Thomas Frazer has no known grave and is remembered on panel 23P of the Menin Gate Memorial.

Sources 5

22nd Battalion Australian Infantry (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/39/25).
https://www.awm.gov.au/
Sources used
6th Brigade Australian Infantry (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/6/25).
https://www.awm.gov.au/
Sources used
Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), RCDIG1064166).
https://www.awm.gov.au/
Sources used
First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455).
https://www.naa.gov.au/
Sources used
Unit embarkation nominal rolls, 1914-18 War (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM8).
https://www.awm.gov.au/
Sources used

More information 4