“Tobacco worker enlists” sounds like the start of a novel. But here at Thomas Hill, we’re not diving into fiction. This is about a real man, Thomas Hill, and his surprising life.
Thomas Hill was born in Emerald Hill now South Melbourne in 1881. His parents were John Hill and Jane Glen. Thomas married Edith Florence Wood in 1900 when he was 19. They had a son named Arthur that year.
For a while, Thomas and Edith didn’t seem interested in politics. They didn’t register to vote until 1914. At that time, they lived at 178 Athol St in Moonee Ponds. Thomas worked as a tobacco worker.
When World War I started, Thomas was 33. He wanted to enlist but had been rejected because of his height. He was only 5 feet 3½ inches tall. Despite his height, Thomas joined up in July 1915. He agreed to give three-fifths of his pay to his wife and child.
Thomas trained with the 10th Battalion reinforcements. A few weeks later, he moved to the 6th Battalion reinforcements. During training, he was charged with misconduct at Ascot Vale Camp. He was reprimanded.
Thomas sailed on the Ceramic in November 1915. He joined the Australian troops in Egypt for training. In March 1916, he went to France. He disembarked in Marseilles in April 1916.
The 6th Battalion was very active in the front lines. They were in Fleurbaix in April, Erovingham in May, and Rue Marle in June. In July, they moved through several towns to Pozieres. Casualties were light until attacks on July 28 and 29, 1916. The battalion suffered heavy losses in August. In early September, Thomas was transferred to 4th Division Headquarters. He was classified as “PB” or Permanent Base duties. His flat feet caused him pain when walking. Marching with full kit had taken its toll. He had flat feet before enlisting. While working as a cook on base, he injured his foot. He had an operation to release a tendon. Tragically, his son Arthur was killed in action in October 1916.
In November 1917, Thomas moved to the Australian Employment Company. In January 1918, he was charged with misconduct. He was fined two days’ pay. Joseph Herman was also involved and fined. Joseph was a tobacco worker and the same age as Thomas.
Thomas went to England in January 1919. He returned home in March. As a married man, he got extra points for early repatriation.
His homecoming wasn’t what he expected. He arrived in Melbourne in May 1919. Before the end of the year, he filed for divorce. Joseph Pope was named as a co-respondent. Both Thomas and Edith lived at 178 Athol St in Moonee Ponds in 1919. It is unclear if Edith lived with Joseph Pope.
Thomas received one of his service medals at the British Australian Tobacco Company. This was likely his former employer. He claimed his son’s medals. He pointedly left the boy’s mother’s name off the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Roll of Honour. He mentioned that he had divorced his wife for adultery.
In 1922, Thomas remarried Alvie Christina Spence. In 1941, he lived at 19 Saunders St, Coburg. The 1942 Electoral Roll shows Thomas and Alvie at that address. Thomas was a tobacco worker and Alvie did home duties. A Thomas David Hill, a plumber, also lived there. This second marriage also ended. In 1949, Alvie lived in Albert Park and worked as a machinist.
Thomas remained in Coburg for the rest of his life. He died in 1974 at age 92. Alvie died in 1989 at age 88.
In 1931, Edith married Arthur Jenkins. Arthur was also a returned serviceman. Edith and Arthur lived in Adelaide. In 1941, Edith requested a duplicate set of medals for Arthur. She also inquired about her son’s medals. The army noted that Thomas had divorced her for adultery. As the boy’s father, Thomas had priority for the medals.
So, as we stand here at Thomas Hill, remember the man. Remember his service, his family, and the twists and turns of his life.