Thomas William HASKETT
Per his military service record (regimental no. 4793), Thomas William Haskett was born at Manuhull, Dorsetshire, [England].[1] He gave his age as 43 years and 5 months, his marital status as married, and his occupation as labourer. His description on his Certificate of Medical Examination form was height 5 feet 8 inches tall, weight 140 lbs., with a fair complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. He claimed that he had 1 years previous military service in the 3rd Battalion of the Dorset Regiment.
He was attested by Lieutenant F. Middenway at Springwood, but there is an anomaly with the date of his attestation on his Attestation Paper of Persons Listed for Service Abroad. The date on the Certificate of Attesting Officer section of his Attestation Paper was originally recorded as 9th November 1915 (the day the Coo-ees marched from Springwood to Penrith), but this date has been changed on the form to 5th November 1915 (the day the Coo-ees marched from Mount Victoria to Katoomba). The Oath to be taken by person being enlisted section is dated from 5th November 1915.
His “Joined on” date on his Attestation Paper was recorded as 5th November 1915, so it appears he may possibly have joined the Coo-ee March somewhere in the Blue Mountains before they arrived at Springwood. He lived at Wentworth Falls, and was employed by Blue Mountains Shire Council on one of the shire gangs at the time he joined the Coo-ee March.[2]
He completed his medical examination at Ashfield on 11th November 1915.
After completing the Co-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.
On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Bathurst Road, Wentworth Falls, N.S.W., and his next of kin is listed as his wife, Mrs A. [Annie] Haskett, at the same address.
On 8th March 1916 Private Haskett, along with many of the other Coo-ees, departed Sydney on the HMAT A15 Star of England. He arrived in Egypt on 11th April 1916.
On 19th April 1916 he was transferred to the 45th Battalion in Egypt.
On 2nd June 1916 Private Haskett left Alexandria aboard the transport Kinfauns Castle bound for France. He arrived at Marseilles on 8th June 1916.
Private Haskett served with the 45th Battalion in France until 31st August 1916, when he was sent to the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station suffering from ‘Oedema of penus’. He was placed aboard the 28th Ambulance Train and admitted to the 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital at Boulogne, France, later that day.
He was later placed aboard the Hospital Ship St Dennis in Boulogne Harbour for evacuation to England.
After arrival in England, on 31st January 1917 he was admitted to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford, England, with odema nephritis.
On 23rd March 1917 Private Haskett was discharged from hospital, and granted leave to report back on 7th April 1917. He then marched into the No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, England, on 9th April 1917.
On 4th May 1917 Private Haskett departed Devonport, England, bound for Australia aboard the H.T. Miltiades for medical discharge (chronic nephritis).
He arrived in Australia on 5th July 1917.
The Lithgow Mercury reported that a concert and dance was held at Wentworth Falls to welcome home Private T. W. Haskett (and send off several other soldiers) in August 1917.[3]
Private Haskett was discharged Medically Unfit on 4th October 1917.
[1] NAA: B2455, HASKETT T W
[2] ‘Wentworth Falls’, Lithgow Mercury, 7 February 1916, p. 3. Retrieved April 16, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article218728295
[3] ‘Wentworth Falls’, Lithgow Mercury, 31 August 1917, p. 3. Retrieved April 16, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article218767520
1915 Coo-ee March 