Thomas Iles played for Rangers United before the war.
He enlisted early in the war in the 11th Battalion and took part in the landing at Gallipoli on the morning of 25 April 1915. His war was over after a few hours when he received a gunshot wound to the leg. Private Iles was evacuated to Malta and then invalided to Australia on 25 September 1915.
We have been unable to find him participating in soccer after his return. He passed away in 1961 at the age of 71. Thomas Iles had a letter to his mother and sister from Malta published in Perth’s Sunday Times on 20 June 1915,
I write you these few lines hoping to find you all well. I am all right here barring a bullet in the leg. It is only a slight wound. I got it on April 25. We landed about half-past 2 in the morning, and I lasted until 5 o’clock in the afternoon. I am getting on pretty good now, and they look after us well here. Hope you are not worrying over me, as it won’t be long before I am back again, and things are pretty good at the Dardanelles now. It was very warm for a start, but our boys have got a good footing, and I don’t think the light will last long. I am getting on all right now. My wound has nearly healed, though I have still got the bullet in my leg waiting for the X-rays.