Thomas William Grimes was born in Ballarat and was a Bricklayer by trade when he enlisted in the 14th Battalion, 12th Reinforcement on 16 September 1915 at the age of 23. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A40 Ceramic on 23 November 1915. In March 1916 he was transferred to the 12th Field Artillery Brigade and in June he moved to France. During September and October 1917 he was hospitalised due to illness but rejoined his unit in November. On December 27th 1917, at Messines, he was wounded in action, gassed, and evacuated to the 3rd Western General Hospital at Cardiff in Wales. The symptoms of his gas poisoning persisted and he was returned to Australia on the Dunvegan Castle to Cape Town, then the Tofua to Melbourne where he came ashore on June 14th 1918. On July 25th 1918 he was discharged as æmedically unfit – neurasthenia and debility due to gas poisoning'.
Tree No 1574