Thomas Caldwell
Sergeant, 12th Battalion The Royal Scots Fusiliers
- Register No.
- 172 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant all Sergeants →
- Unit
- 12th Battalion The Royal Scots Fusiliers all Royal Scots Fusiliers VCs →
- Date of action
- 31 October 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 6th January 1919 on this day → all of 1919 →
- Born
- 10th February 1894 at Carluke, Lanarkshire, Scotland
- Died
- 7th June 1969 at Adelaide, Australia
- Memorial / grave
- Centennial Park Crematorium, Adelaide, Australia
Digest of citation
On 31st October, 1918 near Audenarde, Belgium, Sergeant Caldwell was in command of a Lewis gun section engaged in clearing a farm house, and when this section came under intense fire at close range, the sergeant rushed towards the farm, captured the enemy position single-handed and took 18 prisoners. This gallant and determined exploit removed a serious obstacle from the line of advance and led to the capture by the section of about 70 prisoners, eight machine guns and one trench mortar
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
CALDWELL, Thomas. (reg No. 172)
Sergeant 12th Battalion The Royal Scots Fusiliers.
London Gazetted on 6th January 1919.
Born on 10th February 1894 at Carluke, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Died on 7th June 1969 at Adelaide, Australia.
Memorial at Centennial Park Crematorium, Adelaide, Australia.
Digest of Citation reads: On 31st October, 1918 near Audenarde, Belgium, Sergeant Caldwell was in command of a Lewis gun section engaged in clearing a farm house, and when this section came under intense fire at close range, the sergeant rushed towards the farm, captured the enemy position single-handed and took 18 prisoners. This gallant and determined exploit removed a serious obstacle from the line of advance and led to the capture by the section of about 70 prisoners, eight machine guns and one trench mortar.
Additional information: Attained rank of Company Sergeant-Major.
Additional information
Attained rank of Company Sergeant-Major
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Centennial Park Crematorium, Adelaide, Australia
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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