Thomas Gerismo Wilkins (SN 295) was born in Ballarat and educated at the Urquhart Street State School and Ballarat’s School of Mines. He was a 21 year old carpenter when he enlisted in the 8th Infantry Battalion on August 17th 1914. On arrival in Egypt he was transferred to the 60th Infantry Battalion and promoted to Company Quarter Master Sergeant, an important administrative position. On July 19th 1916 the battalion was embroiled in its first battle on the Western Front at Fromelles without a ‘warm up' period in a quiet sector. It was poorly planned and launched in daylight across open ground. It was a disaster for the battalion, which suffered 757 casualties, killed, wounded or taken prisoner. Among those killed that day was Sergeant Thomas Wilkins. He is buried in Ration Farm Cemetery, La Chappelle D'Armentieres, France.