Thomas William Barlow
Stephen LearmonthThomas was born on the 29th of June 1916 in Albury, NSW. He was one of nine children to Alexander Ernest and Florence Christina (née Bourke). The 1943 Electoral Roll stated that Thomas was living at Jingellic and working as a labourer.
He enlisted at Albury, NSW on the 7th of May 1940. At the time he was a single, 23 year-old, farm labourer and gave his home address as Willow View, Jingellic, NSW. He was allocated the Army No. VX15042 and posted to the Infantry Training Battalion at Williamstown.
On the 15th of September 1940 he embarked on HMAT S2 at Melbourne, disembarking at Egypt on the 18th of October. He was immediately admitted to the 2nd Australian General Hospital suffering from mumps. He remained here for almost two weeks before being transferred to the 2/6th Battalion at Gaza Ridge in Palestine.
Just before Christmas, the 2/6th became involved in its first campaign against the Italians in eastern Libya. It fought its first battle at Bardia between the 3rd and 5th of January 1941. The battalion was given a diversionary role and a series of miscommunications resulted in it taking heavy casualties. It had more success in action at Tobruk between the 21st and 22nd of January.
Late in March of 1941 Thomas was arrested for absent without leave between 2130 hours on the 29th of March and 2100 hours on the 31st of March. He was awarded 7 days confined to barracks and forfeited two days pay.
On the 9th of April the 2/6th, as part of the 6th Division, embarked on the transport Cameronia for service in Greece, along with the 2/5th and 2/7th Battalions. For these battalions, this campaign was a series of withdrawals through rearguard positions. Between the 26th and 29th of April, much of the 2/6th was evacuated by sea. Unfortunately, about one quarter of the battalion was left behind and became prisoners of war.
Back in Palestine, the battalion was rebuilt and moved into Syria in December 1941. In the New Year of 1941, the battalion found itself posted to the town of Dimas, along the Syria - Lebanon border. The first introduced many of the Australians to their first experience of snow in the form of blizzards. Clearing roads became the main form of physical exercise for the troops. Once the weather cleared it was back to training and conducting reconnaissance missions looking for Vichy French troops. In late January the battalion moved nearly 200 kilometres south to Jericho in Palestine.
It left the Middle East on the 10th of March 1942 but instead of heading back to Australia was diverted to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) to defend the island from possible Japanese attack. While in Ceylon, Thomas was admitted to the 12th Australian General Hospital suffering from headaches. By the 4th of August the battalion was safely back on Australian soil. Back in Australia Thomas was once again admitted to hospital suffering from headaches.
On the 26th of October Thomas was posted to the 6th Division Reception Camp after spending some time at the 112th Convalescent Depot at Greta in the Hunter Region of NSW. One month later, he, along with the rest of the 2/6th Battalion, embarked at Townsville, QLD, disembarking in New Guinea a few days later. On the 21st of December, Thomas was promoted to Lance Corporal. For two weeks over New Year he attended a wireless transition course, after which he was further promoted to Corporal.
In mid January 1943, the battalion had their first encounter with Japanese forces as the Japanese army defended Wau. After severe fighting Wau was secured in early February. The battalion then participated in the drive towards Salamua on the coast. At Lababia Ridge it was confronted by a determined Japanese counter-attack and it was during this action that Thomas was killed. He was initially buried on the ridge however on the 14th of January 1944 he was reburied in the Lae War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea.
Thomas is remembered on the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour and the Walwa Honour Roll. For his service, he was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, the Africa Star, the Pacific Star, the Defence Medal, the War Medal 1939-1945 and the Australian Service Medal 1939-1945.