Soldier, vineyard worker

Born in Adelaide, Derrick left the city in search of work during the Depression of the 1930s. He went to the Riverland and found fruit-picking work at Winkie. Derrick lived and worked in the Riverland for nine years until he enlisted at Glossop on 5 July 1940. He was assigned to the 2/48th Battalion, 9th Division, which departed for the Middle East in November that year.

Derrick proved to be a good soldier and rose through the ranks - he was made a corporal in July 1941 while at Tobruk, Libya, and a sergeant a year later. Derrick was respected as a leader and he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) in February 1943 in acknowledgement of his actions at Tel el Eisa, Egypt, in July 1942. He again served with distinction at El Alamein in October 1942.

The battalion returned to Australia in February 1943 and was then dispatched to New Guinea. Here the 2/48th was part of the capture of Lae in September. In November Derrick and his men were heavily involved in the taking of Sattelberg. Battling steep terrain and under fire from Japanese machine guns, Derrick led his men to attack the enemy at close quarters. He went well ahead of his men and destroyed enemy posts with grenades. By this amazing act, Derrick was responsible for the destruction of 10 machine gun posts. The following day it was Derrick who raised the Australian flag over Sattelberg. On 22 March 1944 he was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest award for valour for British and Commonwealth forces, for his actions at the capture of Sattelberg. A notation in Derrick's service records states:

Undoubtedly Sgt DERRICK'S outstanding gallantry fine leadership and refusal to admit defeat in the face of a seemingly impossible situation resulted in the capture of SATELBERG [sic]. His outstanding gallantry and thoroughness were an inspiration to his platoon and to the remainder of his Coy, and has served as a conspicuous example of fearless devotion to duty throughout the whole Bn.

Derrick was posted to officer training when the battalion returned to Australia in February 1944. He was commissioned lieutenant in November and returned to the 2/48th. The battalion landed at Tarakan, on the island of Borneo, on 1 May 1945. They pushed inland and were attacked during the night of 23-24 May by enemy machine gun fire. When Derrick sat up to check that his men were unharmed, he was hit by another round of fire. He died of his wounds later that day, just months before the end of the Second World War. Derrick is buried at the Labuan War Cemetery, Malaysia.

In 2000 Derrick was commemorated on a postage stamp by Australia Post.

28 July 1942: Made sergeant

18 February 1943: Awarded Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) for action at Tel el Eisa, Egypt

July 1943: Involved in the capture of Lae, New Guinea

November 1943: Instrumental in the capture of Sattelberg, New Guinea

22 March 1944: Awarded VC for actions at the capture of Sattelberg

Hutton, Geoffrey. 'Hard battle for S.A. men: Adelaide Sergeant's part in Sattelberg victory', The advertiser, 29 November 1943, p. 4, col. c

'Lt. Derrick, V.C. killed: Falls in action at Tarakan', The advertiser, 29 May 1945, p. 1, col. i

Australian War Memorial See: Events and Exhibitions: Online Exhibitions: Fifty Australians: Diver Derrick and See: Australians at War: Who's who in Australian Military History: Award Recipients: Derrick, Thomas Currie 'Diver'

National Archives of Australia: Search RecordSearch for Derrick, Thomas Currie to view a digital copy of Derrick's service records

South Australians at War [State Library of South Australia]