BONZER
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THOMAS KERMODE
1879 to 1948
A noteworthy South Australian
This six part book is to be a compilation of writings about Thomas Kermode, largely based on documents he left behind.
Part 1 Johnny Allsorts (The Early Years) covers Thomas's life from 1879 until 30 September 1916 (the date of his disembarkation at Devonport, England and the start of his WW1 experience) and includes detailed coverage of Thomas's Boer War experience, and that of his unit (the 5th South Australian Imperial Bushmen's Contingent)
Part 2 Not this Hell of Strife is about Thomas's World War 1 AIF experience, based around the 80 surviving letters he wrote back to his wife May and three young kiddies on the farm at Pyap (on the River Murray, South Australia), and her letters to him. It begins with a recap of the voyage of the Troopship "Ballarat" which carried Thomas and his 32nd Battalion (8th reinforcement) mates from Adelaide, South Australia to the UK. It continues Thomas's personal account and includes his experiences as a bombing instructor at Hurdcott Army
Camp, and as a failed Officer-in-Training. Thomas's innermost hopes, fears, and frustrations are revealed.
Thomas has a falling out with his superior officer and is demoted to Private. He goes on strike and declares himself unfit for army duties. He goes before an Army Medical Board which finds him unfit for overseas duty (England and France) but fit for home service (England or Australia). To the Army's credit, and probably in recognition of the good work Thomas has done in both the Boer War and WW1, a satisfactory compromise is
arrived at. Thomas gets his wish (to return home to wife and children and farm) and the Army gets its final bit of service from Thomas, on the return journey to South Australia as a Medical Orderly on the Hospital Ship "Pakeha". Part 2 concludes with the subsequent sale of the farm at Pyap, near Loxton, South Australia.
Part 3 The Turning Wheel covers the later years of Thomas Kermode's life, from 1918 (sale of the Pyap farm and return to the Adelaide Hills) to 1948 (date of Thomas's death). It is about his civilian and family life.
Part 4 Gold Fever (Balhannah Mine Journals) is based on two fascinating day by day mining journals that Thomas kept while drilling for the rich gold reef that he believed lay under his property at Balhannah, in the Adelaide Hills. The journals are dated between 25/7/1934 and 25/3/1937. Other Thomas letters, and historical information, are also included.
Part 5 The Mind Chandler This is concerned with Thomas's interaction with his family and with wider society. It is to include excerpts from Thomas's "Animadversions"; "The Mind Chandler"; "The Turning Wheel"; his expenses book; his letters; his invention of the rotary piston internal combustion engine; etc etc
Part 6 Postlude The content of this part is still to be determined but will include other items of interest arising from Thomas's writings and life (a sort of miscellany and minutiae) and (as an indulgence) items of passing relevance that the author came across during his "trolling".….. [Or not ……]
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THOMAS KERMODE
1879 to 1948
A noteworthy South Australian
This six part book is to be a compilation of writings about Thomas Kermode, largely based on documents he left behind.
Part 1 Johnny Allsorts (The Early Years) covers Thomas's life from 1879 until 30 September 1916 (the date of his disembarkation at Devonport, England and the start of his WW1 experience) and includes detailed coverage of Thomas's Boer War experience, and that of his unit (the 5th South Australian Imperial Bushmen's Contingent)
Part 2 Not this Hell of Strife is about Thomas's World War 1 AIF experience, based around the 80 surviving letters he wrote back to his wife May and three young kiddies on the farm at Pyap (on the River Murray, South Australia), and her letters to him. It begins with a recap of the voyage of the Troopship "Ballarat" which carried Thomas and his 32nd Battalion (8th reinforcement) mates from Adelaide, South Australia to the UK. It continues Thomas's personal account and includes his experiences as a bombing instructor at Hurdcott Army
Camp, and as a failed Officer-in-Training. Thomas's innermost hopes, fears, and frustrations are revealed.
Thomas has a falling out with his superior officer and is demoted to Private. He goes on strike and declares himself unfit for army duties. He goes before an Army Medical Board which finds him unfit for overseas duty (England and France) but fit for home service (England or Australia). To the Army's credit, and probably in recognition of the good work Thomas has done in both the Boer War and WW1, a satisfactory compromise is
arrived at. Thomas gets his wish (to return home to wife and children and farm) and the Army gets its final bit of service from Thomas, on the return journey to South Australia as a Medical Orderly on the Hospital Ship "Pakeha". Part 2 concludes with the subsequent sale of the farm at Pyap, near Loxton, South Australia.
Part 3 The Turning Wheel covers the later years of Thomas Kermode's life, from 1918 (sale of the Pyap farm and return to the Adelaide Hills) to 1948 (date of Thomas's death). It is about his civilian and family life.
Part 4 Gold Fever (Balhannah Mine Journals) is based on two fascinating day by day mining journals that Thomas kept while drilling for the rich gold reef that he believed lay under his property at Balhannah, in the Adelaide Hills. The journals are dated between 25/7/1934 and 25/3/1937. Other Thomas letters, and historical information, are also included.
Part 5 The Mind Chandler This is concerned with Thomas's interaction with his family and with wider society. It is to include excerpts from Thomas's "Animadversions"; "The Mind Chandler"; "The Turning Wheel"; his expenses book; his letters; his invention of the rotary piston internal combustion engine; etc etc
Part 6 Postlude The content of this part is still to be determined but will include other items of interest arising from Thomas's writings and life (a sort of miscellany and minutiae) and (as an indulgence) items of passing relevance that the author came across during his "trolling".….. [Or not ……]
