Biographical informationChong Wee Thomas (known as Tommy) was born on the 5th December 1908 in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. He was the son of Chong Wee and Chong Hay Pearl. He was the brother of Chong Wee George, Chong Wee Jack, Chong Wee Alice and Fong Kee Mary. He was five feet five inches in height.
By 1916 the family had moved from Darwin to Carnarvon in Western Australia. Either Tommy, or perhaps his father, was recorded as having been an excellent horseman (Daily News, 29/1/1926. Uglieland Rodeo).
He enlisted in the Australian Army on the 20th March 1943. He enlisted at Edaggee Station, 40km south of Carnarvon in Western Australia. At that time he was single and working as a station hand on Edaggee Station. He gave his permanent address as living with his mother at 475 Newcastle Street, Perth. He served in the 11 North West Battalion and was discharged on the 29th December 1944.
On 29/11/1946, in Carnarvon, he was found guilty of cohabiting with a "native half caste woman" and sentenced to three months imprisonment with hard labour (Northern Times, 29/11/1946 pg 15). After he was released in 1947 he married Dorothy Taylor (1917-2009) in Carnarvon (BDM 1947/2800002) and they had at least one child:
1) Steven John Chong Wee (b. 1955, d. 2020).
In the 1970s he lived at 27 Douglas Street, Carnarvon together with his mother and his brother George.
He died in October 1985 in Carnarvon and was buried at Brown Range Cemetery, Carnarvon, Plot 346.Other nameChong Wee Thomas 1905-1985 (differentiated name)Chong Wee Tommy (also known as)Date of birth5th December 1908Date of death3rd October 1985
