William Thomas Bridges was born in NSW in 1896. In 1917 when he enlisted for the war he was living in Kalgoorlie, working as a woodcutter. He served in the 28th battalion and was discharged on 10 Nov 1919.

Just 11 months later he won the Beverley-to-Perth. Sadly the family has no mementos of his racing achievements other than some cuttings from the Motorist & Wheelman and two images taken later, which indicate that he continued to race after his big win. Fortunately he can be recognised in the cuttings by the distinctive hat he wore during the race.

In 1921 he married Jean Murray in Coolgardie and when their first born son was born later that year it is interesting that they named him Beverley William. They lived in Bulong near Kalgoorlie where Tom made bricks to support his family. He and Jean retired to Mandurah where he died in 1980.

Tom Bridges is the rider on the left, location and other people are unidentified. The rider on the right could be the same person in the post card image below, taken in Narrogin in 1924. (photos courtesy Paul Bridges).
The last photo (courtesy the Kerry Stokes Collection) is of Tom finishing ahead of O’Brien outside the Norwood Hotel in 1920.