Thomas James Richard THICK

Thomas enlisted on 26 Feb 1941 and was posted to 2/11th Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers (RAE)as a Sapper. The 2/11th Fld Coy arrived in Darwin on 28 Mar 1941 and embarked for Timor on 8 Dec 1941. He joined the 2/2nd on Timor as a Sapper from 2/11th Fld Coy, RAE, after the fall of Koepang, approx. March 1942. He was one of the Koepang men selected for commando training at Mape and formed the new "D" Platoon with the original Engineers Section, under Lt Turton, then Lt Doig.

After the campaign on Timor, he embarked with the unit, for Australia aboard the Royal Dutch destroyer “Tjerk Hiddes” on 11 Dec 1942.

After leave he was posted to 2nd Army Brigade Park Engineers Training Department in Queensland on 16 Mar 1943. He re-joined the 2/11th Fld Coy on 8 Jun 1943 and appointed Acting Sergeant on 9 Jul 1942. He embarked for New Guinea with 2/11th Fld Coy, aboard "TAROONA" on 7 Oct 1943 and his promotion to Sergeant was confirmed on 21 Dec 1943. He returned to Australia aboard Dutch Ship "BONTEKOE" on 19 Mar 1944 and then embarked for Morotai aboard "SEA BARB" on 16 Mar 1945. He transferred to 2nd Australian Motor Equipment Platoon on 7 Apr 1945 and embarked for Tarakan on 20 Apr 1945, were he was promoted Staff Sergeant on 21 Apr 1945. He embarked for Morotai on 18 May 1945, then embarked for Balikpapn on 19 Jun 1945.

He returned to Australia aboard HMS "IMPLACABLE" and was discharged 30 Nov 1945.

He was entitled to the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal 1939-45, pictured below. He is now also entitled to the Australian Service Medal 1945-75 with a clasp.