b. 06/02/1894 Carluke, Scotland. d. 06/06/1969 Adelaide, Australia.
Thomas Caldwell (1894-1969) was born on 6th February 1894 at Kirkton Street, Carluke, Lanarkshire, Scotland. His father, George Caldwell, also from Carluke, was an ostler in 1891, living with his parents. By 1893 he was a carter. He married Margaret “Maggie” nee Craig, born in Bothwell, Lanarkshire, on 22nd December 1893 at 6 Taylor Row, Lochtannochside, Bothwell. She was a domestic servant working for the Porteous family at Hill Farm House, Bothwell. Thomas had eight siblings.
Thomas was educated at Carluke Primary and Secondary Schools. He was employed as a farm servant near Dolphinton and later as a carter in Carluke. He enlisted in the Lanarkshire Yeomanry and served with 1/1st Lanarkshire Yeomanry, Lowland Mounted Brigade at Gallipoli from 11th October 1915. The unit served in Egypt in 1st and later 2nd Dismounted Brigade from February 1916. On 4th January 1917, 1/1st Lanarkshire Yeomanry and 1/1st Ayrshire Yeomanry amalgamated to form 12th Royal Scots Fusiliers in 229th Brigade, 74th Division. The Battalion landed in France in May 1918 and on 21st June joined 94th Brigade, 31st Division.
Thomas Caldwell VC
In the attack on Audenarde, Belgium on the 31st October 1918 near Audenarde, Belgium, when in command of a Lewis gun section engaged in clearing a farmhouse. When his section came under intense fire at close range from another farm, Sjt. Caldwell rushed towards the farm, and, in spite of very heavy fire, reached the enemy position, which he captured single-handed, together with 18 prisoners. This gallant and determined exploit removed a serious obstacle from the line of advance, saved many casualties, and led to the capture by his section of about 70 prisoners, eight machine guns and one trench mortar. He was later appointed company sergeant major.
Thomas was invested with his VC by King George V in the Quadrangle at Buckingham Palace on 8th May 1919. Earlier that year, on the 1st February, at a reception in Carluke Town Hall, he was presented with a clock by Lord Newlands, the Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire. A public subscription had also raised £1,000. Two months later, on 5th April 1919, he was “initiated” into his local fraternity in Carluke, Lodge St John No 187, then passed on 24th April 1919 and raised on 22nd May 1919.
Thomas returned to farming. He married Jane “Jeanie” McLaren Kerr, born at Law Junction, Carluke, on 14th January 1921 at the Templar Institute, Carluke. They emigrated to Australia, arriving on 5th December 1927, when he was described as a railway brakeman. William Angus VC travelled out with them. They set up home at 57 Tiparra Avenue, Park Holme, South Australia. Thomas worked as a linesman for the Electricity Trust of South Australia from 1930 and retired as a line foreman in 1959. They had three children – Sheena (known as Jeanie), Margaret, and Heather.
He attended the VC Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in June 1920, and the VC Centenary Celebrations at Hyde Park in June 1956. He travelled aboard the SS Arcadia alongside Australian VCs.
In 1968 he made his last visit to Britain for the VCGCA Reunion in London. He died in Adelaide on 6th June 1969 and was cremated at Centennial Park Crematorium, Adelaide and his ashes were interred in Wall 104, Row E, Niche 12. He is commemorated with Caldwell Road in Carluke, Caldwell House at Crawforddyke Primary School, Carluke, on the VC Memorial Arch in Hamilton, Lanarkshire (dedicated to the 15 Lanarkshire VCs), on the memorial to the 55 VCs from Glasgow and the surrounding areas at Glasgow Central Railway Station, a VC commemorative stone placed at Market Place, Carluke on 31st October 2018, and with an Australian War Graves plaque at South Australian Garden of Remembrance in Centennial Park Cemetery, Adelaide.
In addition to his VC, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal 1914-19, George VI Coronation Medal 1937 and Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953. The VC was presented to the Regiment by his widow on 4th February 1971 and was received by Major General Charles Dunbar CBE, Colonel of the Royal Highland Fusiliers. She was presented with a framed copy of the citation and a diamond regimental brooch. The VC is held by the Royal Highland Fusiliers Museum in Glasgow.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: ROYAL HIGHLAND FUSILIERS MUSEUM, GLASGOW.
BURIAL PLACE: CENTENNIAL PARK CEMETERY, ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA.
ASHES INTERRED WALL 104, ROW E, NICHE 12
Acknowledgements:
Thomas Stewart – Images of Caldwell VC’s medals at the Royal Highland Fusiliers Museum, and the Carluke Memorial.
Lynsey Hamilton – Image of the VC Stone in Carluke, and the accompanying programme.