Date of birth:

June 29th, 1918 (Motueka/South Island, New Zealand)

Date of death:

October 22nd, 1917 (Beaudesert/Queensland, Australia)

Service number:

9234

Nationality:

New Zealander

Being seriously wounded during the Battle of Crete Thomas was taken prisoner by the Germans.He spent many months recuperating in a prisoner of war hospital in Greece. During this time he made several unsuccessful attempts. Determined to escape he managed to convince the doctors to pass him as ‘fit’ and was sent to the transit POW camp Thessaloniki in northern Greece where he made a final successful escape.
He evaded capture for over a year as he made his way to neutral Turkey and then onto Syria, reaching the Allies and going on to command the 23rd New Zealand Infantry Battalion, fighting in North Africa and Italy.
At the end of the war Thomas transferred to the British Regular Army and rose through the ranks. He finished his career as Britain’s final commander of Far East Land Forces in Singapore in the 1970s.
Thomas published a number of books detailing his wartime adventures including ‘Dare to be Free’ and ‘Pathways to Adventure’.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant

Unit:

23rd Rifle Battalion, New Zealand Expeditionary Force

Awarded on:

September 9th, 1942

“Lt Thomas led his platoon in an attack on enemy parachute troops who had landed and established themselves in strong positions.
His platoon accounted for 25 enemy dead and 3 prisoners. Of that number Lt Thomas personally dispatched five. On the following day when his platoon was being shelled by a Bofors gun, Lt Thomas brought into action a captured mortar, getting a direct hit on the gun and putting it out of action. He then bombed the aerodrome and led a counter attack on the village of Galatea. He was an inspiration to his men, setting an example for cheerfulness, initiative and courage seldom surpassed.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant

Awarded on:

September 9th, 1942

Second MC awarded as a bar.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Temporary Major

Awarded on:

July 22nd, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant-Colonel

Awarded on:

November 19th, 1948

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major-General

Awarded on:

June 12th, 1971

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant

Unit:

New Zealand Forces

Awarded on:

September 9th, 1942

In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East during the period November, 1941 to April,. 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35697/page/3949
  - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35697/page/3948
  - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36102/page/3313
  - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38459/supplement/6061/data.pdf
  - National Army Museum, Waiouru, New Zealand : Military History & Army War Museum