A century on from the end of World War I we acknowledge their service …
Lest we forget.
Corporal Thomas Francis Maher
Born: 20 September 1899 Buchan. Died: 25 September 1966 Kew.
Enlisted: 22 October 1917 aged 18.
Served: Western Front.
Tom studied at St Patrick’s School and was recognised as a “meritorious candidate”. He was studying mixed farming at technical or agricultural college when he enlisted in 1917, having only just turned 18.
Tom served in France and in August 1918 wrote to his parents in Pakenham saying he had met his brother Ray in France, while his other brother Jack was convalescing in the Middle East from malaria.
In early October 1918, the 22nd battalion took part in the Battle of Montbrehain, the last battle fought by the AIF on the Western Front, where Tom was lightly wounded, but remained at duty. After the War, he caught influenza and was hospitalised in France.
During the War, Tom’s father Stephen had been granted an 80 acre block of land in Pakenham on the condition that one of his sons took it over after returning from the Army. It was Tom who did so.
In the 1920s, Tom was actively involved with the Pakenham Picnic Racing Club.
Unfortunately after a few short years, sickness forced Tom to relinquish the farm, which was transferred to his father.
This is an extract from Patrick Ferry’s book A Century After The Guns Fell Silent – Remembering the Pakenham District’s WWI Diggers 1914-18.
For more details on this and other profiles in the book, head to the website www.pakenhamww1.com
