Thomas Griffiths DSO CMG (1865 - 1947)

Thomas Griffiths was born on 29th September 1865 in Presteigne, Radnor, Wales. He was the son of James Griffiths, a builder, and his wife Mary Ann Knowles. He was educated at the Old Vicarage, Wrexham, Denbighshire.

As a young man not yet 21 years of age, Thomas ventured to the other 'side' of the world to live: to Victoria (Australia).

Almost immediately upon arrival, on 22nd July 1886, Thomas joined the Victorian Permanent Artillery as a gunner.

The young Victorian soldier from Wales married Delia McNamara on 7th October 1891 in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Glenferrie, Victoria. ^[1] They had two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

Thomas' military career blossomed: passing up through the non-commissioned ranks, Lance Bombardier, Bombardier, and Sergeant, he was regimental quartermaster sergeant in 1894 and promoted in 1895 to Warrant Officer, becoming chief clerk of the Victorian Military Forces; all achieved within nine years of enlistment. Whilst certainly a member of the Victorian Military Forces until 1901 and then the Commonwealth Military Forces, there is no record that Thomas served in the Second Boer War; although family lore may suggest that he did. In September 1908 Thomas was appointed secretary to the Military Board with the honorary rank of Lieutenant in the Administrative and Instructional Staff.

On 15th August 1914, upon the outbreak of the First World War, Thomas transferred to the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) and was appointed to the 1st Division staff as a Captain. ^[2]

In this role he embarked for the Middle East on 21st October and landed at Gallipoli about 7:30am on 25th April 1915. He served at Gallipoli throughout the ill-fated campaign. An almost nightly duty was to supervise the landing of reinforcements, frequently under shell-fire, and the evacuation of the wounded. In October 1915 Thomas was transferred to the staff of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps on promotion to Major. Back in Egypt, he was Mentioned in Despatches for his work in the re-organisation of the AIF due to its enlargement.^[3] In May 1916, he was appointed Assistant Adjutant General of the AIF on promotion to Lieutenant Colonel.

Brigadier Thomas Griffiths

Within a year, and against his wishes, Thomas became commandant of the AIF Headquarters, London as a Colonel; responsible for the entire administration of the AIF, the handling of pay and promotions, the recording of deaths and casualties, the postal services and record keeping. Whilst in that position he was promoted to temporary Brigadier General. "No praise can be too high for Griffiths", General Brudenell White concluded. "The administration of nearly half a million men in war conditions, without much guide and precedent, was no mean task, and its successful accomplishment was mainly due to Griffiths." Historian, Charles Bean described him as "One of the great figures in the Australian Army". Griffiths was known throughout the force as industrious, indefatigable, capable but unobtrusive. He was deservedly appointed Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in the King's Birthday Honours 1916, ^[4]Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) on Australia Day 1917,^[5] and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the New Year's Honours 1919^[6] for various aspects of his service throughout the war.

After the war, Thomas became Inspector General of Administration at the Department of Defence for barely a month, before taking up an appointment as Administrator of New Guinea (the former German territory then coming under the governance of Australia), followed by Administrator of Nauru, a post he held until 1927, when he retired. His retirement was short lived however; in 1929 he became head of the Commonwealth War Pensions Entitlement Appeal Tribunal and then returned to New Guinea as Administrator from 1932 to 1934.

Aged in his seventies, during the Second World War Thomas served for a time in the Department of Defence Co-ordination.

Widowered in 1945, Thomas passed away on 16th November 1947 at his home at 15 Lempriere Avenue, East St Kilda, Victoria, and was buried with military honours in Melbourne General Cemetery following a requiem Mass in St Colman's Church, Balaclava. ^[7] He was survived by his two daughters and three grandchildren.