Private Thomas Keddie, State school teacher at San Remo.
Thomas Keddie, a State school teacher, enlisted in the AIF at the first opportunity in August 1915. Like many men of his educational attainments he was made up to a Sergeant at an early stage in his training, but was reduced in rank in February 1915 to Private. His service record does not specify why that occurred, though it is possible he requested the change himself. He may have taken part in the defence of the Suez Canal when it was attacked by the Turks, but that remains another mystery.
On 25 April 1915 Thomas landed at Anzac Cove with his 8 Battalion comrades. Later in the day he was shot in the leg and evacuated. It meant the end of the war for Private Keddie, and he returned to teaching in Victoria. His presence in the Ascot Vale State School "Book of Noble Deeds" suggests he taught there for a period.
You can see Rod Martin's account of Thomas Keddie's part in the Great War here.
