TOM+WEBSTER

 Webster, Tom, Lieutenant in C Squadron of 5th Light Horse Regiment of the Australian Imperial Force. Died of wounds 8th November 1917 age 26. Son of William Webster of Pebble Hall, Theddingworth, England, and Sarah Webster nee Goodwin, of Sarum, near Bell, Queensland, Australia. Buried in Beersheba War Cemetery, Palestine, Row Q, Grave 72.

Tom was born 11th September 1891 on the family farm at Mercaston Hall, Mercaston Derbyshire. He was one of six children. He was christened in All Saints Parish Church at Mugginton, Derbyshire. Hence why there is a memorial to him in the church, as his extended family still lived in the area. He emigrated from England to the farm Sarum, near Bell, Queensland during his first year of life with his parents and three older sisters. Later his father bought a farm called Pebble Hall, Theddingworth, Near Lutterworth, Leicestershire, England and Tom and his siblings came back to live there while attending secondary schools in England. After they finished school the children returned to Sarum. Tom lists himself as a grazier when he enlisted in the army at age 23 on 28 th  Oct 1914 at Dalby, Queensland. However, as the oldest son, and his father in England, he was in fact with his mother running a 52,000 acre farm, which was perhaps why he was promoted from Private to Lieutenant relatively quickly. He was a private, number 328 in 5th Light Horse Regiment “C” Squadron. They embarked at Sydney 28th Dec 1914 on HMAT A34 Persic and arrived at Alexandria, Eqypt in Feb 1915. After a period of training on 16th May they sailed for Gallipoli and landed at Anzac Cove.

Dec 1915 At Cairo promoted to Corporal. Mar 1916 At Serapeum promoted to Sergeant. Nov 1916 At Hod el Batar promoted to Temporary Squadron Sergeant Major. Jan 1917 At Hod el Ge’eila, Sinai promoted to Squadron Sergeant Major (WO Class II). Apr 1917 At Weli Sheekh Nuran, Palestine promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. <span style="font-family: Arial,serif; font-size: 12px;">Jul 1917 At Marakeb, Sinai promoted to Lieutenant.

<span style="font-family: Arial,serif; font-size: 12px;">He is mentioned in the regiment’s war diaries on several occasions. While fighting with the European Expeditionary Force in Beersheba, Palestine he was wounded in the abdomen 7th Nov 1917 and died the next day in a field ambulance. He was buried nearby and later moved to the Beersheba Military Cemetery. <span style="font-family: Arial,serif; font-size: 12px;">His name is also on the war memorial in the churchyard at Theddingworth Parish Church. He attended Market Harborough Grammar School, in Leicestershire and his name is on the school memorial, which is now in Robert Smyth Academy. His name is engraved on the Australian National War memorial in Canberra. It was also displayed in lights and read out several times during the centenary year. Nearer to home his name is on the Kingaroy Church and Kingaroy town memorials. It is also on the district memorial at Bell, Queensland.

<span style="font-family: Arial,serif; font-size: 12px;">Sources used: <span style="font-family: Arial,serif; font-size: 12px;">Ancestry <span style="font-family: Arial,serif; font-size: 12px;">National Archives of Australia <span style="font-family: Arial,serif; font-size: 12px;">Trove - National Library of Australia


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