Thomas James Lees
Rank:
Trooper
Serial No:
Serial No. 1328
Regiment:
2nd Remount Unit
Suburb:
Campbelltown
Thomas James Lees - Information
Thomas James Lees was born in Campbelltown in 1871. He eventually resided at No. 4 Waverly Crescent, Waverly with his wife Mary Jane. Thomas gained military experience serving as a Sergeant with the NSW Mounted Rifles for 2 years, and worked as a fettler. When the war broke out, Thomas enlisted in the AIF in Holsworthy on the 22nd of September 1915 at 44 years old.
Due to his superior horse riding and training skills, he was made a Trooper with the 2nd Remount Unit. Thomas embarked Sydney, onboard the HMAT Orsova on the 10th of November 1915. He arrived in Egypt, and was promoted Lance Corporal at Heliopolis on the 1st of January 1916. Thomas prepared horses to serve within combat units, so they could understand commands and ignore artillery and gunfire. In October, his unit was transferred to Australia. Thomas then left Suez on the Vestalia. When he returned, the Remount Unit was demobilised, Thomas therefore, was discharged on the 9th of December 1916.