For sale is a British War Medal (1914 – 18) impressed named 3431 PTE T.O. O’SHEA. 58-BN. A.I.F. - his sole medal entitlement. It comes with extracts from service records.

Thomas Oliver O’Shea was born on 16/6/1990 in Carleton, Victoria, Australia. He was working as a labourer when he enlisted into the A.I.F. on 2/5/1917 (16 years old), he gave a false age stating that he was 18 years and 1 month.  At the time the enlistment age was 21 or 18 with parents’ permission, he declared his father dead, and someone signed the enlistment form in his mother’s name as Thomas has written that he confirms that it is his mother’s signature.

He was assigned to the 9th Reinforcements 58th Battalion. Perhaps due to his age and lac of maturity, he was constantly in trouble commencing when he departed Australia bound for England on 16/7/1917 until being returned to Australia a year later.

He was charged whilst still on the troop ship bound for England with 1: Disobedience of orders. 2: Using obscene language to an NCO. He was charged twice with the same offences whilst still at sea. This was to continue in the same pattern in England whilst at various training camps. By now he had turned 17. His charge sheet is extensive however he was subsequently returned to Australia on 21/7/1918 due to a hernia for discharge. His true age was only stated several years after when he applied for a second discharge certificate having lost his first one in a fire.