Thomas McFarlane - Private

2nd Battalion Australian Infantry 4765
Died: 15th November 1916, Western Front

Thomas Bruce McFarlane was born at Ardgowan Place, Inverkip on 16th December 1893. He was the second of seven children of Malcolm and Margaret Carnegie McFarlane (m/s Bruce) who at the time were living at Ardgowan Place, Main Street. They were married on 16th August 1891. He was Baptised on 31st December 1893 in Inverkip Church by Rev Alexander McQuisten.

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Malcolm and Margaret sadly lost a daughter, Elizabeth in 1898, aged 11 months. The cause of death was cholera and the address is given as Campbell Place, Inverkip.On the 1901 Inverkip census, the family are living at Ferguson Place, Main Street with their eldest son, Walter, aged 8. Thomas' father's occupation is given as a Carter. On the 1911 Inverkip census, Malcolm and Margaret McFarlane are living at Octavia Place, Inverkip with their children Walter, Malcolm, Peter, George, Elizabeth and David but Thomas is not on the same census entry.

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The family emigrated to Australia in 1913, sailing from Liverpool on the SS Irishman, settling in Gippsland, Victoria. Thomas served in the Australian Expeditionary Force, along with his brother George.

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Thomas was killed near Flers, Flanders on 15th November 1916 and is buried at the Bulls Road Cemetery, Flers (note the interesting spelling of Inverkip in his death notice!). He is remembered on the Australian National War Memorial in Canberra and on the Inverkip War Memorial. The inscription on his headstone reads 'He lives with us in memory and will for evermore.'

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