Stuart Town digger commemorated
PRIVATE Thomas Cohen was a soldier from Stuart Town who was born in Mookerawa, and sadly died in 1918 during WWI in France. Until late 2020, he was buried as an unidentified soldier, at a gravesite at Templeux-leguérard British Cemetery.
Private Cohen married Mary Lee Cohen in 1908 and subsequently, their daughter Lilian was born. Private Cohen was a fitter’s assistant, and worked hard to provide for his family.
By 1916, Private Cohen and his family had moved from Mookerawa to Stuart Town where he enlisted in March 1916, assigned to the 2nd Battalion. After a few months of training in Australia, Private Cohen began the long journey to France in August 1916, sailing on the HMAT Wiltshire.
More than two years after he enlisted Private Cohen’s unit was engaged in fighting around Mont St Quentin.
Private Cohen was alongside soldiers in the Last Hundred Days, the final major period of hostilities involving allied troops on France’s Western Front.
On September 18, 1918, Private Thomas Cohen was killed in action less than two months before guns fell silent with the declaration of armistice which ended the Great War. He was 37.
After more than 100 years, Private Cohen’s family now has closure after his unmarked grave was identified in 2020.
A commemoration service for Private Cohen was held at Stuart Town’s Memorial Gates on April 17, 2021 where a bronze plaque was erected and unveiled in his memory.
The event was organised by the Stuart Town ANZAC Committee, and supported by Dubbo Regional Council.
To this day, Private Cohen’s family remains in the area and family members were in attendance at the ceremony.