ROSE
Thomas Hayward Rose was born on 16 October 1888 in Bunbury, Western Australia, one of four boys and three girls of Robert Henry Rose and Maria Rose (nee Hayward). He attended primary schooling at Parkfield Australind, Brunswick and Bunbury before transferring to Hale School in Perth for his secondary education. In 1911, at 22 years of age, Tom cleared sufficient land with a steam traction engine to build the Edgehill farmhouse.
Tom was travelling with his good friend Ray Clarke in 1914 to Kalgoorlie for a Rifle Shoot when they learnt that War had been declared. Both men enlisted on the spot, becoming original members of the 11th Battalion on 7 September 1914, allocated to H Company. Their ship H.M.A.T. Ascanius embarked from Fremantle on 31 October 1914.
Whilst training in Egypt, Tom Rose defeated the entire First Division of the AIF in a sniper selection shootout, with his mate Ray Clarke as runner-up. Tom was part of the First Landing at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915, and served as a sniper through until July. When Allied Commander Sir Ian Hamilton landed on Gallipoli for briefings, the AIF appointed Tom Rose and Ray Clarke as his personal security and bodyguards for the duration of his stay.
Tom Rose was awarded the Military Medal in late 1916, with the recommendation reading:
At Gallipoli, during the period 25 April 1915 to 15 July 1915, for conspicuous gallantry. He rendered invaluable services in subduing the fire of the enemy's snipers. At great personal risk he frequently went forward well in advance of our trenches to successfully cope with snipers who were causing casualties in our ranks. He displayed courage of a very high order.The Commendation was recorded in the London Gazette No. 29794 dated 20/10/1916, and the Commonwealth Gazette No. 62 dated 19/04/1917.
Rose was admitted to the 2nd Field Ambulance Hospital with influenza and evacuated to hospital in England. It was not until 14 February 1916 that he rejoined the 11th Battalion in Egypt, prior to moving to the battlefields of France. Tom was involved in the fierce Battle of Pozieres and promoted to Corporal on 1 August 1916.
On 14 September 1916, Rose was awarded the Silver Obilich Medal (Serbia) for bravery, as set out in the commendation for the Military Medal above.
On 19 December 1916 he was evacuated to hospital in England suffering from trench feet. Once recovered, he returned to France on 9 July 1917 and rejoined the 11th Battalion. He suffered wounds to his left shoulder during an operation at Glencorse Wood on 20 September 1917, necessitating evacuation to England. Tom was classified as unfit for active duty due to his wounds, and on 16 February 1918 embarked from Plymouth on return to Australia, subsequently discharged from the AIF on 31 July 1918.
Whilst convalescing in England, Tom had met nursing aide Winifred Elsie May Williams. Tom and Winifred were married in Perth on 10 February 1919. They had five children and worked on their agricultural land at Roelands, mainly cropping Potatoes with dairy farming as a sideline. Tom Rose was a founding member of the Western Australian Potato Marketing Board and the Roelands Rifle Club.
During the 1940s Rose suffered a Heart Attack which markedly reduced his capacity for manual labour. He retired to Australind and delighted in fishing, prawning and crabbing in the Leschenault Estuary. Tom Rose died on 24 January 1973 in Bunbury at 85 years of age and is buried in the Anglican E section of the Bunbury General Cemetery.
Special thanks to Peter Hayward Rose for contributing photographs and biographical content to acknowledge Tom's service to the Nation. Peter joined the RAAF for the Second World War and became a Navigator flying in Liberators, hunting U-Boats in the North Atlantic Ocean. His brother Frank served in the 10th Lighthorse in W.A. for four years, and joined the RAAF in 1944 for training as aircrew.
