Thomas DEDMAN

Constable Thomas served in the Queensland Police for six years before being granted a leave of absence to join the A.I.F. in 1915. He, like Corporal Thompson, embarked aboard the HMAT Seang Bee A48 on 21 October 1915 as part of the 26th Infantry Battalion. On arrival in Egypt the A.I.F. was re-organised by creating 16 new Battalions, each containing several experienced soldiers from the Gallipoli campaign. Dedman was posted to the 12th Battalion and promoted to Corporal. His company left Alexandria and arrived in Marseilles on 5 April 1916, and then travelled by train to Belgian Flanders. In early July, the 12th Battalion moved to take part in the attack on the village of Pozieres, set for 23 July 1916. Corporal Dedman was last seen when the 12th Battalion went 'over the top' during an attack on 23 July. There are conflicting accounts of what occurred or how 34-year-old Corporal Dedman was killed. One report states he was killed by a shell at 5am that day, another report states he was killed by machine gun fire during an attack on 24 July as he did not return with the men who were forced back to their trench. His body was not found after the attack and a court of inquiry found that he was killed in action between 23 and 24 July 1916. Thomas’ remains were found some months later and he was buried in an unmarked grave in the Pozieres British Cemetery.