Cleland, Thomas William (696)

Place of Birth: Port Melbourne, VIC

Age: 26 years 2 months

Enlistment Details: Saturday, 12 September 1914 – Melbourne, VIC

Service Number: 696            view online service record

Address:
139 Clark Street
Port Melbourne, VIC

Next of Kin:
William James Cleland (father)
139 Clark Street
Port Melbourne, VIC

Embarkation Details:
Date: Tuesday, 22 December 1914
Ship: HMAT Ulysses A38
Port: Melbourne, VIC
Unit: 14th Infantry Battalion

Fate:
RTA: Tuesday, 1 July 1919
Discharged: Wednesday, 3 September 1919

Tom played football for Port Railway United and enlisted with teammate Jock Menzies.

Tom’s brother, Rob Cleland also enlisted.

1915 ‘Footballer-Soldier Wounded.’, Port Melbourne Standard (Vic. : 1914 – 1920), 22 May, p. 2, viewed 30 April, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91166889

1915 ‘AT GALLIPOLI.’, Port Melbourne Standard (Vic. : 1914 – 1920), 10 July, p. 3, viewed 30 June, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91166961

1915 ‘In the Trenches.’, Port Melbourne Standard (Vic. : 1914 – 1920), 17 July, p. 2, viewed 30 June, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91167605

T Cleland was listed on the Swimming Club Roll of Honour, 25 November 1916.

1916 ‘ROLL OF HONOR.’, Port Melbourne Standard (Vic. : 1914 – 1920), 25 November, p. 2. , viewed 04 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91164781

In November 1919, Thomas applied to Port Melbourne Council for the combined position of Dog Registration Officer, Meter Reader and Assistant Collector for Electric Supply. Over 100 applications were received*.

He was a plumber and had been a resident of Port Melbourne all of his life.

Another returned soldier, Sydney Ryan Carns was the successful applicant.

* The file of handwritten applications is part of the Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation Society Collection