Private Henry ‘Harry’ Bell – 191

A studio portrait of Private Henry Bell taken in August 1915 at Broadmeadows army camp. Source: AWM.

Henry Bell was born in 1876 in Bendigo, Victoria to Henry and Jane Bell. He enlisted in the A.I.F. in July 1915 and embarked from Melbourne in November 1915. He was allocated as a Private to A Company, 29th Battalion, 8th Brigade. Private Bell participated in the Battle of Fromelles on the 19th July 1916 and was recorded as missing in action. In March 1917, his identity discs were returned from Germany and he was deemed killed in action in July 1916. Private Bell originally had no known grave but was one of the soldiers found buried at Pheasant Wood in 2009. In 2010 he was reburied in the Fromelles Military Cemetery.

Details

Birth and childhood: Henry Bell was born in 1876 in Bendigo, Victoria to Henry and Jane Bell. Henry attended Corporate High School in Bendigo.

Religion and Occupation: Anglican Insurance Agent

Family: Henry Bell was married to Dorothy Isabel Mills Bell. He was one of 12 children including a brother John J. Bell who lived near Bendigo and was head teacher at a local school.

Enlistment: Henry enlisted in the A.I.F. on the 8th of July 1915 at Eaglehawk, Victoria.

Embarkation: Private Bell embarked from Melbourne on the 10th of November 1915 on board the H.M.A.T. Ascanius bound for Suez where he arrived on the 7th of December 1915.

Service Details:

Private 8/7/15 – 19/7/16 A Company, 29th Battalion, 8th Brigade, A.I.F.
16/6/16 – Departed Alexandria to travel to Western Front. He arrived in Marseille on the 23rd of June 1916 on board the Tunisian.
During the Battle of Fromelles on the 19th and 20th of July 1916 Private Bell went missing in action.
In March 1917 Private Bell’s identification disc was received from Germany. He was killed in action on the 19th of July 1916.

Memorial: Private Bell originally had no known grave but was one of the soldiers found buried at Pheasant Wood in 2009. In 2010 he was reburied in the Fromelles Military Cemetery. He is also remembered on VC Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles, Lille, Nord Pas de Calais, France.

Medals:

British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1914/15 Star.

Sources:

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C991684

https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=19086

https://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/person/62744

Click to access abt.pdf

https://www.army.gov.au/our-work/unrecovered-war-casualties/world-war-one/fromelles/remains-of-nine-world-war-1-diggers

Private Robert Woodall Barker – 814

136916 — Photograph of Private Barker from the Queenslander Pictorial – 16th September 1916 P 22.

Robert Woodall Barker was born in England in 1890 but enlisted in the A.I.F. in Brisbane, Qld on the 4th of January 1916. He was appointed as a Private to D Company of the 41st Battalion and arrived in France on the 24th of November 1916. After the war Robert gained a short work experience position on a property in England to improve his farming skills. While there he met and then married his employers daughter, Edith Jane Thompson in June 1919. He was discharged from the A.I.F. In early January 1920.

Details

Birth and Family: Robert Woodall Barker was born in Scarborough, England to Maria Woodall and Robert Barker in February 1890. He had one brother Sydney Thompson Barker who also enlisted (service number 809) and was in the 41st Battalion. He died from war related complications on the 5th of October 1919.

Religion and Occupation: Anglican Farmer

Enlistment: He enlisted in Brisbane, Qld on the 4th of January 1916 at the age of 25.

Embarkation: Private Barker left Sydney, NSW on the 17th of May 1916 on board Demosthenes and arrived at Plymouth on the 20th of July 1916.

Details:

Appointed Private 10/5/16 – 3/1/20 D Company, 41st Battalion, 11th Brigade, A.I.F.
He departed Southhampton, UK for France on the 24th of November 1916.
After the war, Robert went and gained experience in farming including gardening and dairying with Robert Henry Thomson, from late may until late August 1919 in Scarborough, England where he was born.
On the 20th of June 1919 Robert married Edith Jane Thomson who was the daughter of his employer during his work experience.
Returned from England on the Ascanius and arrived in Australia on the 11/11/19, one year exactly since the end of the war.
Discharged on the 3/1/1920.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

However, Robert Woodall Barker returned to the UK to live in Scarborough with his wife and her family.

Sources:

https://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/records/56140

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1951584

https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=13514

Private Peter Michaelovitch Chirvin – 1932

Peter Chirvin was born in 1895 in Eastern Russia but moved to Brisbane in 1914. He enlisted in the A.I.F. in January 1915 before embarking in April 1915 as a Private with the 9th Battalion. He was wounded in action by a gunshot wound in September 1916 and then returned to action. In February 1919 Private Chirvin left Europe to return to Australia. While the ship was in Sydney Harbour for quarantine Private Chirvin committed suicide on the 16th of April 1919. This was reportedly due to harassment from other soldiers about his Russian nationality due to the Russian Revolution and consequent retaliation against socialists and foreigners in Australia.

Details

Birth: Peter Michaelovitch Chirvin was born on the 21st of December 1895 to Natalia Vasilevna and Michael Fedorovich Chirvin in Lugovoy, Sakhalin Island in Far Eastern Russia. His family lost a lot of possessions including offical documents during the Russian Revolution. In February 1916, he was transferred to the 49th Battalion

Pre-war life: Peter M Chirvin departed from Eastern Russia on board the St Albans via Moji, Japan arriving in Brisbane, Qld on the 16th of October, 1914.

Occupation: Media Reporter

Enlistment: He enlisted on the 28th of January, 1915 in Brisbane, Qld.

Embarkation: Private Chirvin embarked on the 14th of April 1915 from Brisbane, Qld on board H.M.A.T Kyarra.

Service Details:

Private 14/4/15 – 10/7/15 5th Reinforcements, 9th Battalion, 3rd Brigade, A.I.F.
Private 10/7/15 – 27/2/16 Transferred to 9th Battalion, 3rd Brigade, A.I.F.
Sick with Dysentery on 11/9/15 and admitted to No. 1 Hospital Cairo until 25/10/15
Private 27/2/16 – 16/4/19 Transferred to D Company, 49th Battalion, 13th Brigade, A.I.F.
Wounded in Action by Gun shot wound to left wrist on the 3rd of September 1916.
- Admitted to 3rd London General Hospital on 8th of September 1916.
Boarded HT Anchises to return to Australia on 28/2/1919.

Medals: Military Medal awarded on the 30th of October 1918. Also received a British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1914/15 Star.

Death: Peter Chirvin died from asphyxiation caused by hanging which was ruled a suicide due to being ‘temporarily deranged in mind” on board the HT Anchises in Sydney Harbour on the 16th of April 1919. In the enquiry into his suicide it was revealed that he was being heckled about his Russian nationality and being called a ‘bolshie’. He also expressed fear about his reception in Australia after the recent Red Flag riots in Brisbane between 1918-19 by returned servicemen against socialists and others considered to be potentially disloyal such as foreigners. He was buried at North Head Quarantine Cemetery in Sydney, NSW.

Sources:

https://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/records/148798

https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2745484/

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1675751/

http://russiananzacs.net/Chirvin

Private David Andrew Allison – 7205

David Andrew Allison was born in 1873 in Queensland and was a police officer in Western Australia between 1901-9, in 1909 he had to retire due to a bad broken leg. He originally enlisted in September 1915 but was discharged on request in October 1915 as his daughter was born. He re-enlisted in November 1916 and left Australia in January 1917. He was appointed as a Private in the 11th Battalion but served as an ambulance driver with the 17th Field Ambulance. In December 1917 he was admitted to hospital sick and died on the 16th of December 1917.

Details

Birth: David Andrew Allison was born in 1873 to Elizabeth and David Samuel Allison in Toowoomba, Qld.

Marriage and children: He was married to Elizabeth Rachel Allison (née Waterhouse) and had two sons named Leslie Irvine and Robert Arthur as well as a daughter named Lila Ethel.

Occupation: He worked in the Western Australian police force for 8 years between 1901-1909.

Enlistment: He enlisted at the age of 42 on the 8th of September 1915 in Blackboy Hill, WA. However after initial training, he was discharged on his own request due to the birth of his daughter on the 14th of October 1915. He re-enlisted in the A.I.F. on the 10th of November 1916 in Fremantle, WA.

Embarkation: Departed Fremantle on the 29/1/17 on board the H.M.A.T. Miltiades and arrived in England on the 27th of March 1917.

Service Details:

Private 30/12/16 – 2/7/17 24th Reinforcements, 11th Battalion, 3rd Brigade, A.I.F.
Private 2/7/17 – 9/7/17 Transferred to 17th Field Ambulance, 6th Division, A.I.F.
Private 9/7/17 – 16/12/17 Transferred to 11th Battalion, 3rd Brigade, A.I.F.
Admitted to hospital sick on 14/12/17

Death: Private Allison died from disease on the 16th of December 1917. He was buried on the 18th of December 1917 in Melcombe Regis Cemetery in Dorset, UK with grave reference II. C. 3111.

Medals: British War Medal

Sources:

https://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/records/18990

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1773668

Private Reginald Percival Aherne – 1637

aherne-reginald-percival-crop_orig — 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

Private William Robert Heard – 4318

William Robert Heard was born in October 1889 in New South Wales and was raised by his unmarried mother after his father left them when he was young. In September 1915 William enlisted in the A.I.F and was appointed as a Private in the 20th Battalion. Private Heard mostly fought on the Western Front in Belgium and France but experienced a number of bad illnesses and wounds which resulted in his return to England for recovery and treatment on a number of occassions. In June 1918 he was diagnosed with Trench Fever and invalided to England but unfortunately he died on the 17th of August 1918.

Details

Birth: William Robert Heard was born on the 18th October 1889 in Tumbarumba, NSW to Rachel Elizabeth Heard and William Gregson. His parents were not married and his father left the family when William was young, requiring his mother to raise him alone.

Enlistment: William enlisted on the 11th of September, 1915 at Cootamundra, NSW.

Embarkation: William Robert Heard embarked from Sydney, NSW on the 11th of March, 1916.

Service Details:

Private 14/12/15 – 11/1/16 10th Reinforcements, 20th Battalion, 5th Brigade, A.I.F.
Private 11/1/16 – 17/8/18 C Company, 20th Battalion, 5th Brigade, A.I.F.
Departed Alexandria for Marseille on 9/5/16
Admitted to hospital with Furunculosis 4/10/16 – 8/11/16
- Taken to England for treatment
Returned to France on 3/2/17 on board S.S. Victoria and rejoined 20th Battalion on the 8/3/17
Wounded in Action on the 3/5/17 – Gun Shot Wound to the Face and taken to hospital in England.
Returned to France on the 4/8/17 and rejoined 20th Battalion on the 22/8/17
Wounded in Action on the 20/9/17 – Gun Shot Wound to the Left Arm and taken to hospital in Bologne
Returned to 20th Battalion on the 20/10/17.
On 4/3/18 Private Heard went on leave to England until 22/3/18
Admitted to hospital on 22/4/18 with scabies until 27/4/18
Admitted to hospital on 24/5/18 with illness and transferred to Reading War Hospital in England on 3/6/18 with Trench Fever.
On the 17th of August 1918 he died of septicaemia and oedema of the lungs.
He was buried in Reading Cemetery on the 21st of August 1918 in Section 72, grave number 16469.

Medals: Victory Medal, British War Medal

Sources:

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1894780

Click to access heard__william_robert.pdf

http://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/records/198515

Captain John Henry McElroy – 427 or 1631

John Henry McElroy was born in Melbourne in 1878 and originally enlisted in August 1914 and allocated as a Private to the 2nd Battalion. While serving in Gallipoli and France he was steadily promoted up to the rank of Captain but was invalided to England due to shell shock in 1917. He was then sent to Australia and discharged as medically unfit. In mid 1918 he then reenlisted under an alias of John Henry with a new service number of 1631 and joined the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force where he served until 1919. In mid 1961 John Henry McElroy died in Heidelberg, Victoria.

Details

Alias: John Henry with service number 1631 used to re-enlist after being discharged as medically unfit.

Birth: John Henry McElroy was born on the 15th of July 1878 to Bridget (née Spauhan) and Michael Jose Elroy in Melbourne, Victoria.

Enlistment: Originally, John H McElroy enlisted in Sydney NSW on the 22nd of August 1914.

Embarkation: He embarked fromSydney NSW on the 18th of October 1914 on board the HMAT Suffolk A23.

Service Details:

Private 22/8/14 – 13/1/15 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, A.I.F.
Promoted Lance Corporal 13/1/15 – 7/4/15 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, A.I.F.
Promoted Corporal 7/4/15 – 7/8/15 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, A.I.F.
Promoted Second Lieutenant 7/8/15 – 28/1/16 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, A.I.F.
Promoted Lieutenant 28/1/16 – 18/10/16 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, A.I.F.
Promoted Captain 18/10/16 – 30/12/17 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, A.I.F.
Invalided to England in late 1917 and then was discharged due to being medically unfit on the 30th of December 1917.
On the 12th of June 1918 John Henry McElroy re-enlisted under the alias of John Henry and received new service number of 1631.
Private 12/6/18 – 20/11/18 Recruit Depot Broadmeadows
Private 20/11/18 – 4/2/19 Naval and Military Expeditionary Force
Private John Henry embarked from Sydney on the 18th of December 1918 on board SS Melusia.
Promoted Second Lieutenant 4/2/19 – 23/9/19 A Company, 3rd Battalion
Discharged for the second time on the 23rd of September 1919.

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

Also awarded a Military Medal on the 7th of November 1916 and a Military Cross on the 17th of January 1917.

Marriage: John H McElroy was married to Catherine McElroy after the war.

Death: John Henry McElroy died on the 13th of April 1961 in Heidelberg, Victoria.

Regimental Sergeant Major Herbert James Fowles – 1855

Herbert James Fowles was born in Western Australia in 1889 and after attending school became a Light House Keeper. In February 1915 he enlisted in the A.I.F. and was initially ranked as a Private in the 11th Battalion. Throughout his service he was awarded a number of medals for his bravery in the field and also received promotions to the position of Regimental Sergeant Major. After the war he got married and returned to Australia. In January 1947 Herbert J Fowles went fishing in a small boat and died from drowning.

Details

Birth: Herbert James Fowles was born on the 4th of January 1889 to Sophia Elizabeth (née Simmons) and James Fowles in Albany, Western Australia. He had one brother, Frederick William Fowles.

Religion, Education and Occupation: Roman Catholic, attended Christian Brothers’ College, Albany WA and was a Light Keeper.

Enlistment: On the 12th of February 1915 Herbert J Fowles enlisted in Perth, WA.

Embarkation: He left Fremantle, WA on the 19th of April 1915 on board the HMAT Argyllshire A8.

Service Details:

Private 4/6/15 – 15/3/16 11th Battalion, 3rd Brigade, A.I.F.
Wounded in Action with Gun Shot Wound to the Head from 24/6/15 – 25/10/16
Promoted Lance Corporal 15/3/16 – 25/10/16 11th Battalion, 3rd Brigade, A.I.F.
Promoted Corporal 25/10/16 – 1/3/17 11th Battalion, 3rd Brigade, A.I.F.
Promoted Sergeant 1/3/17 – 7/4/17 11th Battalion, 3rd Brigade, A.I.F.
Promoted Company Sergeant Major 7/4/17 – 14/11/18 11th Battalion, 3rd Brigade, A.I.F.
Promoted Regimental Sergeant Major 14/11/18 – 1919 11th Battalion, 3rd Brigade, A.I.F.

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

Awarded the Military Medal 15th of May 1917
Awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal in June 1917

Marriage: On the 31st of July 1919 Herbert married Winifred Scott.

Death: On the 12th of January 1947 Herbert James Fowles went fishing alone in a small boat and drowned near Point Moore, Western Australia.

Sources:

http://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/records/93899

http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/fowles-herbert-james-6227

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1828214

Second Lieutenant Richard Anacletus Nelson – 4240

Photograph portrait of Richard A Nelson in uniform. Source:https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1255935

Richard Anacletus Nelson was born in South Australia in 1893. In August 1915 he enlisted in the A.I.F. in Adelaide where he embarked for the front in January 1916. At first he was posted as a Private to the 2nd then 10th Battalion, but by February 1916 he was appointed to the 50th Battalion where he was steadily promoted through the ranks to the position of Second Lieutenant by October 1917. On the 7th of November 1917, Richard A Nelson was killed after stepping on an unexploded bomb.

Details

Birth: Richard A Nelson was born on the 11th of July 1893 to Annie O’Halloran and Patrick Nelson in Petersburg, South Australia. He had three brothers, Tom, Mick and P (full name unknown).

Religion and Occupation: Catholic Engine Cleaner.

Engagement: He was engaged to be married to Miss E Owens.

Enlistment: He enlisted in Adelaide, SA on the 11th of August 1915.

Embarkation: Private Nelson departed Adelaide, SA on the 11th of January 1916 on board the HMAT Borda A30.

Service Details:

Private 11/8/15 – 1/11/15 C Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, A.I.F.
Private 1/11/15 – 25/2/16 Transferred to 13th Reinforcements, 10th Battalion, 3rd Brigade, A.I.F.
Private 25/2/16 – 12/3/16 Transferred to 50th Battalion, 13th Brigade, A.I.F.
Promoted to Corporal 12/3/16 – 15/7/16 50th Battalion, 13th Brigade, A.I.F.
Promoted to Lance Sergeant 15/7/16 – 14/8/16 50th Battalion, 13th Brigade, A.I.F.
Promoted to Sergeant 14/8/16 – 10/10/17 50th Battalion, 13th Brigade, A.I.F.
Wounded in Action on 7/11/16 with severe gun shot wound to eye and foot. Admitted to 2nd Southern General hospital until 12/9/17.
Promoted to Second Lieutenant 10/10/17 – 7/11/17 50th Battalion, 13th Brigade, A.I.F.
Died on the 7/11/17.

Medals: Victory Medal, British War Medal

Also received Military Medal for his brave actions at Zonnebeke on 26th of September 1917.

Death: On the 7th of November 1917, while walking across a field with unexploded bombs during a break, Richard A Nelson was killed. He was buried in the Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension in Albert in Plot VI. F. 25.

Sources:

http://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/records/334921

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/427090/

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1658969

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R2382396

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1498860

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1947666

http://ww1sa.gravesecrets.net/ne.html

See Nelson, Richard Anacletus MM

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