Thomas Joseph Moran

MORAN, Thomas Joseph- – – SPC 1897

DoB:- – 12 December 1882, Clarke’s Hill, near Ballarat, VIC

Father:- – Patrick Moran

Mother:- – Bridget, nee Leonard

Thomas Moran was a member of the Senior Football team and was noted as a -‘sterling follower’.

Service No:- 675

Rank:- – Private

Unit:- – 3rd Squadron Australian Flying Corps (AFC)

Tom Moran enlisted on 12 July 1916 at the age of 33 years and nine months. He was five feet, five and a half inches tall, with a medium complexion, light blue eyes and black hair. He was a single man, who worked as an electrician.

He embarked from Melbourne on 25 October 1916 aboard the Ulysses, disembarking at Plymouth, England two months later. For the next several weeks, Private Moran was based in England undergoing training. He was also not very well behaved and was quite frequently brought before the military court.

Crime: 11 January 1917, Breaking London camp. AWL from 10pm 11.1.17 to 12.30am 12.1.17. Award: 14 days detention by Major Blake. Total forfeiture 16 days’ pay.

Crime: 10 June 1917, Drunkenness. Award: Fined 2/6 by Major D Brown.

Even after proceeding to France on 24 August 1917, he was charged with being drunk while on active service, and awarded four days’ field punishment.

While still in France, on 2 August 1918, Private Moore was injured accidentally, sustaining a concussion and contusion of his left shoulder. He was invalided back to the UK for treatment, but did not return to France. He returned to Australia on 6 May 1919.

Upon his return to Australia, Thomas Moran resumed his career as an electrician. He enlisted for service in WWII, (Service No. V16014) and was attached to the 12th Garrison Battalion at Broadmeadows, Melbourne. After the war, Thomas returned to Clarke’s Hill and embraced the farming life.

He died on 23 September 1955 at St John of God Hospital in Ballarat, at the age of 73 years. He was buried at the Pootilla Cemetery. Thomas Moran never married.