YAPP, Thomas Henry Snr (Veteran)

Name – YAPP, Thomas Henry Snr (Veteran)
Born – 00/00/1874
Died – 16/03/1939
Location – No 6 Anglican Section
Mother – Ellen Fownes
Father – Thomas Henry Yapp

Notes – Thomas was born to Thomas and Ellen in Warwickshire, England in 1872. He completed a five year apprenticeship to become and electrical engineer. He married Fanny Ward and they decided to leave England and come to Australia in 1910 with their three sons Thomas, Charles and William. Their daughter Fanny was born in Toowoomba where her Dad worked at the Toowoomba foundry.

They settled in Toowoomba for a short time and then selected 960 acres at Tara on the Tullagrie Road area where they established a dairy. They called their farm Shirelands. Thomas was a very clever man and used his engerineering skills in many ways.

In 1916 Thomas Snr. joined up to WWI with his son Thomas Jnr. He was sent to France and served three years in the motor transport section. He was medically discharged on the 6th July, 1919. He had reached the rank of Seargant. He received the Britsh Star and the Victory Medal.

He remained a supporter of the RSL as was noted in the papers when the Soldiers Memorial Hall hadn’t been handed over to the Returned Serviceman as promised.

Thomas has the following census records from Australia, 1917 with Fanny, Ellen and Thomas at Western Rd, Tara, 1925 – 1930 with Fanny and Thomas at Western Rd, Tara with Bill a labourer at Tara and 1937 at the same area just now know as Matthews Rd, Tara.

Thomas has a headstone and shares his grave area with his son Thomas Henry Jnr. and Fanny is buried nearby. He was buried with the honours of a returned serviceman.

Newspaper Article – Read here.

War Service File  – YAPP, Thomas Henry

Learn more about the Tara Cemetery here.