Thomas’ occupation and marital status on enlistment was detailed as a Police Constable, who was single.
- Date of Birth –1888 in Young, New South Wales.1NSW Birth Death and Marriages, https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/ Birth 38224/1888, Hush, Thomas, Parents Ralph and Susan, Registered in Young. Accessed 23 March 2024.
- Parents – Father Ralph Hush deceased, Mother Mrs Susan Hughes, Redbank, Araluen.2Commonwealth War Graves, https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/924395/thomas-hush/. Accessed 23 March 2024.
- Enlisted at Braidwood on 22 May 1916, and nominated his age as 28 years and 1 month. Thomas embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on board HMAT A73 Commonwealth on 19 September 1916.3University of NSW AIF project https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=147991 Accessed 24 March 2024.
- Regimental Number – 3174National Archives of Australia. https://www.naa.gov.au/. NAA: B2455, Hush, Thomas, Item ID – 6928253. Accessed 23 March 2024.
- Aged at embarkation – 28 years
- Military service – 9th Machine Gun Company. Rank – Private. Served at the Western Front and awarded the British War Medal, and Victory Medal.5 Virtual War Memorial Australia, https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/205515. Accessed 23 March 2024.
- Killed in action 18 November 1917.6Australian War Memorial, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1491517 Accessed 23 March 2024.
- Buried – Commemorated at Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial with his age noted as 32.7Find a Grave.com. Panel 178, on a monument at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/249806075/thomas-hush. Accessed 23 March 2024.
Ralph Hush Jnr (1843-1896) and Susan Stephens (1852-1931) had eleven children–Emma, Annie, Ada, Edith, Joseph John, William, Ralph, Thomas, Ethel, James and Percy. Susan next married Owen Hughes (1859-1929) in 1901 who came to Araluen when the gold dredging began.
Thomas’ younger brother Percy Alfred Hush was killed in action on 29 May 1917 while serving with the 35th Battalion and is buried in the Strand Military Cemetery, Plot 1, Row D, Grave 10.8Virtual War Memorial Australia, https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/347992. Accessed 23 March 2024. His older brother Joseph John Hush (1882-1939) returned to Australia on 9 August 1919 having served with the 55th Battalion.9Virtual War Memorial Australia, https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/167401. Accessed 9 April 2024.
The Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal10Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1889; 1895; 1897-1954), Friday 7 December 1917, p 8. reported in December 1917 ‘Last Saturday Mr. R. Hush, of Manar, received news that his youngest brother had been killed in France. Young Tom Hush was a fine, genial lad, and much Sympathy is extended to his mother, Mrs. Hughes, of Araluen, and family in their irreparable “loss”. The Hush clan have done their share of sacrifice, in this great struggle to maintain the freedom of civilisation.’
The Braidwood Review and District Advocate11Braidwood Review and District Advocate (NSW : 1914-1954), Tuesday 11 December 1917, p 7. advised ‘ROLL OF HONOR. HUSH.— Killed in action in France, on 18th November, 1917, Machine Gunner Tom Hush, beloved Son and Stepson of Mrs and Mr. 0 [Owen]. E Hughes, of Araluen.’