Private Reginald Percival Aherne – 1637

Photo of Private Aherne in uniform. 

Reginald Percival Aherne was born in 1885 in Tasmania and enlisted in the A.I.F. in January 1915. He first fought at Gallipoli were he was wounded in August 1915 and then invalided to the UK. Although his injury recovered he continued to suffer from anxiety and ‘neurasthenia’ – an ill-defined medical condition characterised by fatigue, headache, and irritability, mostly associated with emotional disturbance. In April 1917 he was medically declared no longer fit for active service on the front and instead allocated to home service in the UK. In September 1917 he went missing from camp and was found drowned on the 23rd of September 1917. There was a court of inquiry into his death held and it was declared that one of the commanding officers was guilty of negligence for failing to report his depressed state of mind.

Details

Birth: Reginald was born in 1885 to Helena and James Aherne in Hobart, Tasmania. He had one sister, Lorna Aherne

Religion and Occupation: Anglican Miner

Enlistment: He enlisted in Hobart, Tasmania on the 4th of January 1915.

Embarkation: Departed Melbourne on the 19th of February 1915 on board the H.M.A.T Runic.

Service Details:

• Private 4/1/15 – 23/9/17 D Company, 15th Battalion, 4th Brigade, A.I.F.
• Wounded in Action in Gallipoli on 8/8/15 – Gun Shot Wound Left Forearm
  • Admitted to No. 3 Australian General Hospital
  • Admitted to Lowlands Casualty Clearing Station 20/8/15
  • Admitted to Military Hospital Hampstead on 16/9/15 – 23/9/15
• Deemed no longer fit for active service and instead to perform home duties in the UK due to neurasthenia, nervousness and melancholy – 3/4/17
• Goes missing from Westham camp on 18/9/17
• Died from drowning 23/9/17 (see below)
• Court of Inquiry held on 29/9/17 at Monte Video Camp, Weymouth
  • Sergeant Jerrems found guilty of negligence and received punishment

Death: Private Aherne died from drowning on the 23rd of September 1917. There was some suspicion around the circumstances of his death and an inquiry into the medical care he did or did not receive due to his ‘depressed state of mind’. He was buried on the 25th of September 1917 in Melcombe Regis Cemetery, Dorset UK with grave reference II. C. 3148. His funeral was attended by a large contingent of friends.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal, 1914/15 Star

Sources:

https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2749478/

https://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/records/25594

https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/a—c.html

Second Lieutenant Thomas Ray Crooks – 1305

Thomas Ray Crooks was born in October 1884 in Hobart but enlisted in the A.I.F. in New South Wales in December 1914. After enlisting he was promoted through the ranks to Company Sergeant Major but was then badly injured in September 1916. In November 1916 he was demoted to Sergeant but re-promoted in January 1917 to Company Sergeant Major and then to Second Lieutenant in September 1917. In May 1918 Second Lieutenant Thomas Ray Crooks was given an early discharge due to poor behaviour after going absent without leave for four days, however his behaviour was deemed to be connected to the injury he received in September 1916.

Details

Birth: Thomas Ray Crooks was born on the 11th of October 1884 to Martha (née Ray) and William Crooks in Hobart, Tasmania.

Religion and Occupation: Presbyterian Coachsmith.

Marriage: He was married to Edith Mary Crooks.

Enlistment: On the 3rd of December 1914 he enlisted in the A.I.F. at Liverpool, NSW.

Embarkation: Sergeant Crooks left Sydney on the 11th of February 1915 on board the HMAT Seang Bee A48.

Service Details:

• Private 3/12/14 – 31/12/14 2nd Reinforcements, 13th Battalion, 4th Brigade, A.I.F.
• Promoted Sergeant 31/12/14 – 10/3/16 13th Battalion, 4th Brigade, A.I.F.
• Admitted to Hospital with Dysentry from 21/9/15 to 10/12/15.
• Promoted Company Sergeant Major 10/3/16 – 18/11/16 Transferred to 45th Battalion, 12th Brigade, A.I.F.
• Badly wounded in action with gun shot wound to right arm on the 5/8/16. Remained in hospital until 29/9/16.
• Demoted to Sergeant 18/11/16 – 5/1/17 45th Battalion, 12th Brigade, A.I.F.
• Promoted to Company Sergeant Major 5/1/17 – 14/9/17 45th Battalion, 12th Brigade, A.I.F.
• Promoted to Second Lieutenant 14/9/17 – 23/5/18 45th Battalion, 12th Brigade, A.I.F.
• Received an early discharge on the 23/5/18 due to poor behaviour including 4 days of being absent without leave which was believed to be connected to his injury from August 1916.

Medals: 1914/15 Star, Victory Medal, British War Medal

• Also received the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on 27/3/17.

Death: Thomas Ray Crooks died in 1932 in Sydney, NSW.

Sources:

http://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/records/91234

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1825361

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R2307011

http://archival.sl.nsw.gov.au/Details/archive/110319574

• Link to a copy of Thomas Ray Crooks War Diaries

 

Lieutenant Lindon Ernest French – 4654

Lindon Ernest French (standing) photographed with his brother Clarence Charles French (seated). Source: The Weekly Courier newspaper 07/06/1917

Lindon Ernest French was born in Tasmania in 1893 and enlisted in the A.I.F. along with his brother in September 1915. During the war French was promoted through the ranks in the 57th Battalion to the position of Lieutenant. For his bravery Lindon was awarded a Military Medal and Meritorious Service Medal in 1918.

Details

Name: Also known as Lyndon Ernest French

Birth and Siblings: He was born on the 30th of June 1893 in Deloraine Tasmania to Ellen Louisa (née McKay) and Ernest Richard French. He had one brother Clarence Charles French who he enlisted in the A.I.F. with and features in the photo above.

Religion and Occupation: Methodist Orchardist

Enlistment: Lindon and his brother Clarence both enlisted in Claremont Tasmania on the 2nd of September 1915.

Embarkation: He left Melbourne on board the HMAT Themistocles A32 on the 28th of January 1916.

Service Details:

• Private 2/9/15 – 3/3/17 8th Battalion, 1st A.I.F. Division.
• Promoted Corporal 3/3/17 – 15/6/17 Transferred to 57th Battalion, 1st A.I.F. Division
• Promoted Acting Sergeant 15/6/17 – 21/7/17 57th Battalion, 1st A.I.F. Division
• Promoted Sergeant  21/7/17 – 6/1/19 57th Battalion, 1st A.I.F. Division
• Promoted Lieutenant 6/1/19 – 9/7/19 57th Battalion, 1st A.I.F. Division

Medals: Victory Medal, 1914/15 Star, British War Medal

• Also awarded a Military Medal and Meritorious Service Medal on the 3rd of October 1918 for his action in September 1918.

Death: Lindon died on the 7th of February 1987.

Sources:

http://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/records/89001

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R2330120

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1738502