A RETURNED HERO

Unpacking their Christmas billies at Lemnos, December 1915.  AWM collection.

"In October, 1915, the 6th Grade (then the 2nd) at Kensington State school, sent a billy-can to a soldier at the front. Sgt.-Major Fleming, D.C.M., whilst lying wounded in hospital at Lemnos, after the evacuation of Gallipoli, received this billy filled with gifts, good wishes and little messages of love from the children, which he answered, thus beginning a correspondence lasting 2½ years, between the scholars and their soldier brother. Each mail brought and took letters, parcels, comforts, papers, etc. to and from the school children, to the battle fields of Egypt, France, Belgium and later to hospitals in England, each child being eager to write to "Brother Tom" (and equally as eager for an answer, which always came) resulted in some hundreds of letters passing between this Anzac and his little Australian brothers and sisters, who treasured very much the interesting and cheery letters from their adopted soldier-brother. Following the usual custom, the contents off the parcels were divided amongst the men with the Sgt.-Major, and many thanks were sent to "Fleming's Kids," as the children were called by the soldiers.

Great was the joy when the scholars' learnt that their soldier had won the D.C.M., but great was the sorrow when they learnt that he had been badly wounded, and would be in hospital for months. Even when suffering fearful pain, he managed to write a few words to the class, telling them not to worry about him, but to ask that he might be spared to see them. The children brought their pennies to school, and a cablegram of sympathy was sent to the hospital in England. The English nurses were so touched by this action that they had the message pasted up in the ward, and when ever the Australian mail arrived they would say: "Here's more love and messages from your 60 brothers and sisters." Just before Easter the long-expected news came that the soldier-brother was to be sent home, and eagerly was each list of returning men read over, to find the name of the one expected, and soon after he came from his home in New South Wales especially to see his little friends. One needed to be present on that occasion to realise the pride and love Australian children have for "Our Boys."

Speaking of his escort to the school by the children, the Sgt. Major re marked that it was the finest escort he had ever had or wished to have. After making friends with his little brothers and sisters, the whole party, at the invitation of their big brother, went for a picnic to North Essendon, and spent such a happy time that the day with "Brother Tom" will be remembered for many years. Besides serving his king and country in Africa, Sgt.-Major Fleming has had 3½ years' active service in this war, and he considered that he had been brought back safely, though much battered, to Sunny Australia and his dear home-folk by the love and prayers of the little ones, who asked every morning, before starting the day's lessons, that God would bless and take care of their soldier-brother".

A RETURNED HERO. (1918, May 2). The Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter (Moonee Ponds, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 5 Edition: Morning. Retrieved June 11, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74605775

The service details of 1762 Sergeant-Major Thomas William Fleming.  Fleming enlisted in 1914, and received a gunshot wound to the right arm not long prior to the evacuation, and would have been likely to have been in hospital when the Christmas billies were distributed.    Fleming was wounded for a second time in June 1917 and evacuated to England.  He returned to Australia on the A14 on 23 March 1918, and was landed at Melbourne, returning to NSW overland (by train).    This article refers to a group of returned soldiers being received at the Sydney Central Railway Station, specifically mentioning "Staff-Sergeant T W Fleming, DCM". 

BACK IN SYDNEY. (1918, March 23). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 13. Retrieved June 14, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15775397

Fleming's B2455 shows that he had been a Staff-Sergeant, and also that he had not been awarded the DCM.  Annotation on a letter from his wife about the medal appears to show that the army authorities had concluded that the DCM had been awarded in 1915 to a Major R Fleming of the Gordon Highlanders.   Misinformation may have been relayed to Fleming which was not cleared up until years later.