BROWNE, Thomas McDonald

BROWNE, Thomas McDonald – A Southern Downs Veteran

CONFLICT : WWI
SERVICE NO : 299
RANK : Corporal
UNIT : 2nd Light Horse Regiment
ENLISTMENT DATE : 24/08/1914
AGE : 27
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT : Warwick, Queensland
PLACE OF BIRTH : Stanthorpe, Queensland
RELIGION : Roman Catholic
OCCUPATION : Grazier
DATE OF DEATH : 20/04/1917
PLACE OF BURIAL : Deir El Belah, Palestine

MEMORIALS : Dalveen WWI Honour Boards, Stanthorpe Soldiers Memorial Rolls of Honor, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

View Veteran’s Service File : BROWNE, Thomas McDonald

NOTES :

Thomas McDonald Browne, who was known as Macky, was one of ten children born to Michael Patrick and Margaret Matilda Browne of Mt Janet, Dalveen. His schooling was undertaken at the Mt Janet Provisional School near Dalveen where he was one of the first children enrolled at the school in the first year it opened on January 26, 1898. The first school teacher, Jane McDonald boarded with the Browne family.

For three years prior to his enlistment, Macky had been a member of the 14th Light Horse Regiment, Stanthorpe. He and Charles Smith 238 were the first two men from Dalveen to enlist in the First World War.

Three of his brothers were to follow his example, they were Stewart Alexander Browne 460, Frederick Robert Browne 574 and William Michael (Bill) Browne 3256.

A member of the Australian Light Horse Regiment, Thomas was part of the first Australian contingent to join the fighting in Europe in November 1914.

In Gallipoli he fought with the infantry before returning to the 2nd Light Horse Regiment in Egypt. Thomas was killed in action during the 2nd Battle of Gaza.

Read about Southern Downs Military History here.