Category Archives: Roll of honour

Joseph Patrick WALLIS

Posted on June 1, 2014 | Leave a comment

 Joseph Patrick WALLIS (aka Joseph Patrick WAILES)

Per his military service record (regimental no. 4617), Joseph Patrick Wallis was born at Darlinghurst, N.S.W.[1]  He gave his age as 18 years and 4 months (though he was younger), his marital status as single, and his occupation as seaman. He undertook a preliminary medical examination at Trangie on 6th October 1915 (where he gave his occupation as stableboy, and address as 9 George Street, Burwood). His description on his medical was height 5 feet 6 ¼ inches tall, weight 112 lbs., with a fair complexion, grey eyes, and light brown hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic.

He joined the Coo-ee March at Dubbo. He completed his medical on the 13th October 1915 at Dubbo, and was attested on 13th October 1915 at Dubbo. He claimed to have had no previous military service.

After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.

On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Wollara Wollar, via Mudgee, N.S.W., and his next of kin is listed as his aunt, Mrs Sarah Doyle, Wollara Wollar, via Mudgee, N.S.W. (This was later changed in his service record to his mother Mrs Jane Wailes at various Sydney addresses).

Private Wallis departed Sydney on the HMAT A70 Ballarat on the 16th February 1916 as 14th Reinforcement for the 13th Battalion. He arrived in Egypt on the 22nd March 1916. On the 1st April 1916 he was transferred to the 54th Battalion.

He embarked on the HT Caledonian at Alexandria on 19th June 1916, and disembarked at Marseilles, France, on 29th June 1916.

He was killed during the Battle of Fromelles in France on 19/20th July 1916. He was originally listed with “No known grave”, and commemorated at V. C. Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial at Fromelles.

His body was identified in 2010, and was buried in the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery, France.

Joseph Patrick Wallis headstone at Fromelles (Pheseant Wood) Military Cemetery, France (Photograph S & H Thompson 2012)

Joseph Patrick Wallis headstone at Fromelles (Pheseant Wood) Military Cemetery, France (Photograph S & H Thompson 2012)

Private Wailes’ name is also commemorated on panel 160 on the Australian War Memorial First World War Roll of Honour.

Research note: The NSW Birth Certificate for Joseph Wailes shows he was born on 28th August 1898, so he was actually only 17 years and 1 month when he enlisted with the Coo-ees, and 17 years and 10 months when he died.

 

[1] NAA: B2455, WALLIS JOSEPH PATRICK

[2] NSW Birth Certificate WAILES JOSEPH  27421/1898 FREDERICK C  JANE SYDNEY

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Charles Arthur FINN

Posted on May 30, 2014 | Leave a comment

Charles Arthur FINN

Sapper C. A. Finn, of Gilgandra killed in action (Newspaper unknown, ca. 1917)

Sapper C. A. Finn, of Gilgandra killed in action (Newspaper unknown, ca. 1917)

Per his military service record (regimental no. 6289), Charles Arthur Finn was born at Mt McDonald, N.S.W.[1] He gave his age as 27 years and 3 months, his marital status as single, and his occupation as Blacksmith. He completed his medical on 7th October 1915 at Gilgandra and was attested by Captain Nicholas on 9th October 1915 at Gilgandra. He claimed to have had no previous military service.

After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the Engineers.

On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Gilgandra, N.S.W., and his next of kin is listed as mother, Mrs Eliza Finn, ‘Rosevale’, Everdon, Gilgandra N.S.W.

Sapper Finn departed Sydney on the HMAT A26 Armidale on 21st March 1916 with the 15th reinforcements for the 1st Field Company Engineers. He arrived in Egypt on 24th April 1916.

On the 28th May 1916 Sapper Finn left Alexandria aboard the SS Briton bound for England where he trained before being sent to France on 18th August 1916.

He marched into the 4th Division Base Depot at Etaples on 18th August 1916.

Sapper Finn was transferred to the 13th Field Company Engineers, and was one of 15 reinforcements who marched into the 13th Field Company Engineers on  27th August 1916, whilst it was resting at Pernois, France.

On the 29th November 1916 he was evacuated sick whilst the Company was conducting works in the forward area in the vicinity of Delville Wood, France

On the 1st December 1916 he was admitted to the 14th General Hospital at Boulogne, France, with Influenza. On the 9th of December 1916 he was transferred to the 1st Convalescent Depot at Boulogne. On the 16th of December 1916 he was sent to the 25th General Hospital suffering from piles. On the 3rd of January 1917 he was transferred to the 7th Convalescent Depot.

On the 14th February 1917 Sapper Finn was sent to the No.3 Large Rest Camp. On the 18th February 1917 whilst at the Number 3 Large Rest Camp Sapper Finn was charged with Whilst Being On Active Service Being in Bed One Hour after Reveille. He was awarded Five Days Confined to Barracks.

On the 26th February 1917 Sapper Finn marched into the Australian Engineers Base Depot at Etaples. On the 15th March 1917 he rejoined the 13th Field Company whilst it was in Reserve at Baizieux, France.

On the 7th April 1917 the 13th Field Company was conducting road maintenance, and locating and repairing wells and looking for mines, in the vicinity of Bapaume, France when he and another member of the Company were killed by a high explosive shell. According to his Red Cross Wounded and Missing report, Sapper Finn and another soldier ‘were taking detonators out of a German unexploded mine when a shell came over and killed them both’, and they were ‘both buried at Noreuil, where they were at the time’. [2]

His body was exhumed from this grave after the war, and he was then buried at the H.A.C. Cemetery, Ecoust-St. Mein, Arras, Nord Pas de Calais, France.

 

Charles Alfred Finn's headstone at H.A.C. Cemetery, France (Photograph: S. & H. Thompson, 6/9/2014)

Charles Arthur Finn’s headstone at H.A.C. Cemetery, France (Photograph: S. & H. Thompson, 6/9/2014)

Sapper Finn’s name is commemorated on panel 23 on the Australian War Memorial First World War Roll of Honour.

His name is also listed on the Gilgandra War Memorial, and the Cooee March Memorial Park Gateway at Gilgandra.

 

[1] NAA: B2455, FINN C A

[2] ‘6289 Sapper Charles Arthur Finn, 13th Field Company Engineers’, Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau Files, 1914-1918 War 1DRL/0428, https://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R1486776/

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James CRAWFORD

Posted on May 30, 2014 | Leave a comment

James CRAWFORD

Per his military service record (regimental no. 4753), James Crawford was born in Glasgow, Scotland. He gave his age as 38 years, his marital status as single, and his occupation as farmer. His description on his medical was height 5 feet 5 ½ inches tall, weight 11 stone 7 lbs., with a fair complexion, bluish grey eyes, and fair hair. His religious denomination was Anglican. He completed his medical on the 8th October 1915 at Gilgandra and was attested by Captain Nicholas on the 9th October 1915 at Gilgandra. He claimed to have had no previous military service. His surname looks like “Crowford” in his signature.

After completing the march he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.

On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Gilgandra, N.S.W., and his next of kin is listed as mother, Mrs E. Crawford, Hull Head, Castle Fern, Donegal, Ireland.

Private Crawford departed Sydney on the HMAT Star of England on the 8th March 1916. He arrived in Egypt on the 11th of April 1916.

On the 7th of June 1916 Private Crawford left Alexandria aboard the Transport Ionian bound for France, arriving at Marseille on the 14th of June 1916.

On the 31st August 1916 during the Battle of the Somme the 13th Battalion was being relieved from the vicinity of Mouquet Farm, France when he received a gunshot wound to his back. Private Crawford was evacuated to the 49th Casualty Clearing Station, where he died of his wounds on the 3rd September 1916.

He is buried in the Contay British Cemetery, France.

James Crawford's headstone, Contay British Cemetery, France (Photograph: H. Thompson 4/9/2014)

James Crawford’s headstone, Contay British Cemetery, France (Photograph: H. Thompson 4/9/2014)

Private Crawford’s name is commemorated on panel 68 on the Australian War Memorial First World War Roll of Honour.

His name is also listed on the Cooee March Memorial Park Gateway (Gilgandra).

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Harold BAXTER

Posted on May 1, 2014 | Leave a comment

Harold BAXTER

Per his military service record (regimental no. 4730), Harold Baxter was born at Illford, Essex, England.[1]  He gave his age as 22 years and 4 months [although he was several years younger], his marital status as single, and his occupation as a farm labourer.  His description on his medical was height 5 feet 9 inches tall, weight 11 stone, with a medium dark complexion, blue eyes, and dark hair. His religious denomination was Methodist.

He completed his medical examination on the 10th October 1915 at Gilgandra and was attested by Captain Nicholas on the 9th October 1915 at Gilgandra. He claimed to have had no previous military service.

After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.

On his embarkation roll his address as time of enrolment was Euronga, Gilgandra, N.S.W., and his next of kin is listed as father, [Mr J.] Baxter, 727 Romford Road, Manor Park, Essex, England.

Private Baxter departed Sydney on the HMAT A15 Star of England, along with many of the other Coo-ees, on the 8th March 1916. On the 19th April 1916 he transferred to the 45th Battalion in Egypt.

On the 2nd June 1916 Private Baxter left Alexandria aboard the Kinfauns Castle bound for France, arriving at Marseilles on the 8th June 1916.

Private Baxter survived the fighting on the Somme unscathed, however on the 22nd November 1916, near Guedecourt, France, he was one of 3 members of the Battalion killed during a intercompany relief by a heavy German artillery barrage that also wounded 7 other members of the Battalion.

He is buried at Bancourt British Cemetery, at Bancourt, France.  His age at death was listed as only being 20 years of age on his headstone.

Harold Baxter headstone, Bancourt British Cemetery (Photograph: S & H Thompson 2012)

Harold Baxter headstone, Bancourt British Cemetery (Photograph: S & H Thompson 2012)

His name is also listed on the Cooee March Memorial Park Gateway (Gilgandra).

Research note:  His Birth Certificate lists his date of birth as 14th May 1897, so he was only 18 years and 4 months when he enlisted on the Coo-ee March.  He was only 19 years and 6 months old when he died.[2]

[1] NAA: B2455, BAXTER H

[2] General Register Office Birth Certificate, Harold Jubilee Baxter, Ilford, County of Essex, 14 May 1897, son of James Aram Baxter and Rhoda Baxter formerly Kilner.

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