Name
Thomas Bernard Rodwell
1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
29/07/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
657
Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
20th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Searched but not found
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BECOURT MILITARY CEMETERY, BECORDEL-BECOURT
I. U. 7.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary's Church Memorial, Apsley End,
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial
Pre War
Thomas Bernard Rodwell (known as Bernard) was born in 1894 in Hemel Hempstead, the son of Herbert and Minnie Rodwell, and one of 12 children. He was baptised at St John the Evangelist Church, Boxmoor on 17 June 1894.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Aston Villa, Weymouth Street, Apsley, Hemel Hempstead, when his father was working as a Steam Engine Fitter at the Paper Mill (John Dickinson & Co Ltd). They remained in Weymouth Street, living at No. 77, at the time of the 1911 Census, when Bernard was working as a sawyer at the timber mill. He was later employed at John Dickinson & Co, Apsley before he emigrated to Australia.
He left for Australia on 21 March 1914 on the SS Irishman, a White Star Line ship bound for Sydney, Australia travelling 3rd class, with his friend George Holliday.
Wartime Service
Bernard enlisted at Liverpool, New South Wales, with the Australian Imperial Force on 13 March 1915 and served with B Company, 20th Battalion, 5th Brigade.
He first served in Gallipoli from 16 August 1915 where his battalion formed the rear guard in the retreat and was one of the last to leave. They were training in Alexandria from 9 January 1916 to 18 March 1916 and then embarked on the HMT Ingoma arriving in Marseilles on 25 March 1916. He was appointed Lance Corporal in May 1916.
He died during the Battle of Pozieres on 29 July 1916, aged 22, at the 5th Australian Field Ambulance, from of wounds received in action, having suffered compound fractures of both arms and the right leg. He is buried at Bercourt Military Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, France.
Additional Information
Thomas Bernard is named on the Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial as "Bernard".
Brother to Herbert Thomas Rodwell who served with the Bedfordshire Regiment and died of wounds received in action at Arras on 17 April 1917 and is buried at Duisans British Cemetery, Atrun.
His younger brother Frederick died of tuberculosis in Hemel Hempstead on 23 September 1916, aged 20 and is buried in the churchyard of St Mary's, Apsley and Bernard is also named on the gravestone as having been killed in action in France.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
www.dacorumheritage.org. uk., www.hemelatwar.org., www.aa.gov.au., www.hemelheroes.com.
