Thomas Constable
Name: Thomas Constable
Rank: Private
Service number: 6054
Unit Served: 27th Infantry Battalion
Personal Details: Thomas Frederick Constable was born in Portslade-by-Sea, Sussex, England in 1891. He was the son of Edwin and Emma Constable and went to school at St. Andrews Church School in Portslade. He moved to Australia at the age of 23 and settled in the town of Blumberg (now known as Birdwood). Here he worked at the Mac Hotel as a labourer, although his parents described his occupation as a dairy man. He was also a member of the Blumberg Rifle Club for 2 years prior to enlisting on the 28th September, 1916. He was 5'5" tall with a fresh complexion, hazel eyes and light brown hair and weighed 144 lbs.
Military Service: Thomas enlisted on the 28th September into the 17th Reinforcement of the 27th Battion. He embarked Adelaide aboard the "Afric" on the 7th November and arrived in Plymouth on the 9th January, 1917. He trained at Rollestone for 5 months apart from a brief period of AWOL on the 6th and 7th of May (perhaps to visit Mum?). He proceeded overseas to join the 27th Battalion on the 12th June 1917. Thomas was then wounded in action with a shrapnel wound to the left leg on the 20th September at the Battle of Menin Road. A week later he rejoined his unit, only to be wounded again a week after that on the 4th October at the Battle of Broonseinde Ridge. This time he received a gun shot wound to the face, and it was just over 3 weeks before he once again rejoined his unit. From the 12th February to the 2nd of March, Thomas was granted leave in England. He returned for the last time to the 27th Battalion as he was killed in action on the 11th June, 1918 in an attack around Morlancourt.
Date of Death: 11th June, 1918
Age at Death: 27
Cemetery Details: Heath Cemetery Harbonnieres Plot VII, Row G, Grave 7
