Thomas Makin 1893 - 1915

1975, Private Thomas Makin

14th Battalion

Australian War Memorial:

Studio portrait of 1975 Private Thomas Makin, 14th Battalion from Korumburra, Victoria. A 22 year old miner prior to enlisting in the AIF on 14 January 1915, he embarked for overseas with the 5th Reinforcements from Melbourne on 17 April 1915 aboard HMAT Hororata. He was killed in action on 8 August 1915 at Kaiajik Dere, Gallipoli and his name is inscribed on the Lone Pine Memorial at Gallipoli with others who have no known grave.

 

Thomas Makin was born in 1893 at Wollongong New South Wales. His parents were Thomas Makin (1866-1929) and Jane McVicars (1873 - ). Grandparents were Thomas Makin (1838 – 1923) and Mary Ann Derritt (1842 – 1918). Great Grandparents were William Samuel Makin (1802 – 1887) and Eleanor Selina Bolton (1816 – 1890).

Thomas enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force 14 January 1915. At that time he was living with his mother at Korumburra, Victoria and his occupation was recorded as Miner. His Service Number was 1975 and his unit was 14 Battalion, 5 Reinforcements.

On his enlistment papers Thomas was described as 22 years 3 months of age. 5 feet 8 ¼ inches. Weight 154 lbs, Chest measurement 39-38 ½ inches. Complexion Brown. Eyes Blue-Gray. Hair Light. Religious Denomination- Presbyterian.

Thomas embarked at Melbourne on H.M.A.T. A20 “Hororata” on 17^th April, 1915 and disembarked at Suez on 20^th May, 1915. He was taken on strength at Zeitoun and proceed to Gallipoli on 9^th July, 1915.

 

Troops on board HMAT Hororata (A20) prior to departure with a crowd of well-wishers, including children, on the wharf, some holding paper streamers connecting them to men on the ship. Port Melbourne, Victoria, 17^th April 1915.

 

Considerable difficulties were experienced by Records Section at Alexandria in obtaining definite and reliable information in regard to 14^th Battalion Gallipoli casualities. The Battalion had the misfortune to lose all its records covering the first few months of the campaign.

A Court of Enquiry was held at Cairo 27.2.19 which declared that Thomas illegally absented himself in Egypt about 30.6.15 and that he was still absent.

An investigation carried out in October 1921 elicited the following information:

a)      Statement by Mr. C. W. Williams, late No.2036, 5^th Rfts., 14^th Battn., to the effect that he landed at Gallipoli with Private Makin early in July; was in the same dugout and was with him until he marched to Suvla Bay 8.8.15. After the charge he was told Pte. Makin was killed in action in the Poppy Field.

b)      Statement by Mr. W. A. Richardson, late No.1999, 5^th Rfts., 14^th Battn., to the effect that Pte. Makin landed on Gallipoli in July and that he last saw him on the 7^th August. He was then quite well. He did not see him again as he was wounded the next day and left Gallipoli.

c)       Extract from 14^th Battalion War Diary giving accounts of the operations of the battles concerned for the first few days of August, 1915.

d)      Minutes from Finance Secretary starting that according to records the last payment was made to Pte. Makin at Zeitoun on 30.6.15 – amount £1.10.0.

e)      Soldiers name has never appeared on any List of Prisoners of War in Turkish hands, nor has he ever been reported as a hospital patient.

SUMMARY: The evidence adduced above makes it quite clear –

a)      That Makin did in fact proceed to and disembark at Anzac

b)      That on the 8^th August, 1915 was with his Battalion.

 

The War Diary for 14^th Battalion A.I.F. for that day reads:

8/8/15   0300       14^th Battalion moved out in single file in rear of 15^th Battalion and crossed KAIAJIK DERE and then deployed into lines of platoons in field on ridge North of Kaiajik Dere. Here Major. R. Rankine feinted and Major C.M.M. Dare assumed command of 14^th Battalion and an advance was made under heavy rifle and machine gun fire and consequently casualties were very heavy. After the 15^th Battalion on our immediate front had practically withered away the 14^th continued to advance suffering heavily and the Turks were met in great force on our front and left. As we drove them back they counter attacked on our left flank several times. The Battalion thus got very split up and it is impossible to say exactly what happened. Orders were then issued to dig in and consolidate the position gained, and prolonging the line held by the 29^th Indian Brigade to the left. A Sikh Machine Gun detachment took up a position to protect our left and rear from attack. Here the enemy’s shrapnel opened on our shallow fire pits and considerable damage was done. No reply whatever was made by our artillery and our men continued to suffer from shrapnel THE 16^TH Battalion successfully drove off a determined counter attack made by the enemy on our left.

07.30     Orders received from Col. Pope Commanding 16^th Battalion to retire. A reply was despatched asking if it were not possible to hold the ridge running from our left down over knoll 60 towards the sea and stating that we could hold what we had gained.

08.30     Another order to retire received from Col Pope and stating that the whole Brigade was retiring. Orders were immediately issued to collect all wounded, arms, and equipment and take same to behind our lines. The 14^th Battalion then retired by platoons down the Kaiajik Dere in shell formation together with a few details of the 15^th and 16^th Battalions.

 

Strength:          14 Officers 560 others

Killed:                    3 Officers 33 others

Wounded:          3 Officers 90 others

Missing:              2 Officers 126 others

 

On the 26^th October, 1921 the Officer in Charge of Base Records was advised that ‘After careful consideration of the whole of the circumstances and the evidence available, I approve that No. 1975. Private Thomas Makin, 5^th Reinforcement, 14^th Battalion, A.I.F. be recorded as Killed in Action on the 8th August, 1915, and that any record subsequent to that date regarding his illegal absence be expunged from the records’  signed by Major General Sellheim, Adjutant General.

Thomas was awarded the 1914/15 Star No.26673, the British War Medal No.38415 and the Victory Medal No.38103. These were given to his mother in 1922/23.