Thomas Matthew MOODY
Year of Birth: 1890
Place of Birth: Charters Towers, Queensland
Date of Enlistment: 13 November 1916
Date and Place of Embarkation: 7 February 1917, Sydney, New South Wales
Ship: HMAT Wiltshire A18
Rank: Private
Unit(s): 41st Australian Infantry Battalion – 7 to 9 Reinforcements (February-June 1917)
Regimental Number: 3184
Died: 1 September 1918
Thomas Matthew Moody was born 19 September 1890, the sixth child of Thomas Charles Parsee Moody and Annie Osgerby who were married in 1878. Their first two daughters died in infancy. Six children followed – Harriett Esther (1881), Violet Ellen (1885), William Charles (1888), Thomas Matthew (1890), Albert Henry (1892) and John Joseph (1895).
Thomas’ brother, John Joseph Moody, enlisted 23 December 1915 and returned to Australia on 15 February 1918. At the time of enlistment in Townsville, his age was 26 years 2 months, his occupation a labourer and next of kin was his mother Mrs Annie Maria Moody, Sachs Street, Cairns. His height was 5 feet 9 inches, weighed 10 stone 5 pounds with a medium complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He was Church of England. The Examining Medical Officer noted he required extensive dental treatment.
Thomas embarked on the HMAT Wiltshire A18 from Sydney on 7 February 1917. He was wounded a number of times and returned to duty, finally succumbing to wounds on 1 September 1918. He was buried in Curlu French Military Cemetery near Peronne and in 1920 the family was advised that his remains had been exhumed and reburied in the Suzanne Military Cemetery No 3, France.
HMAT Wiltshire A18 – photo courtesy Australian War Memorial
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Cairns Post 27 April 1917 p6
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Cairns Post 16 November 1917 p4
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Cairns Post 1 September 1919 p4
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Cairns Post 1 September 1919 p4
Online Resources
Qld Birth Death & Marriage Index
Australian War Memorial Photograph of HMAT Wiltshire A18; Australian War Memorial
NAA: 2455 Moody, Thomas Matthew, National Archives of Australia
Trove Digitised Newspapers, National Library of Australia Cairns Post 27 April 1917 p6
Cairns Post 16 November 1917 p4
Cairns Post 2 September 1918 p4
Cairns Post 1 September 1919 page 4
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