Joseph Charles Joshua Farnell
From Our Contribution
 Photo courtesy Shellie Cummings | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 17 Jul 1896 |
| Place of Birth | St Mary's Cray, England |
| Death | 6 Apr 1982, aged 86 |
| Place of Death | Bunbury, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 19 years, 6 months |
| Description | 5'4" (1.63m) tall; weight 116 lbs (52.6 kg); dark complexion, brown eyes, dark brown hair |
| Occupation | dairyman |
| Religion | Congregational |
| Address | Third road, Armadale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Mother Mrs Elizabeth Farnell |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 4732 |
| Date of Enlistment | 16 Feb 1916 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit/Formation | 28th Battalion, 12th Reinforcement /7th Brigade, 2nd Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 17 Apr 1916 - 14 May 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A60 Aeneas |
| Date of Return | 1 Jun 1919 - 8 Jul 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | SS Somali |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument |
Armadale (Armadale panel) Armadale Congregational Church Honour Board |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
War Service
Camp Chronicle 24 Feb 1916 p.2 records Joseph's arrival in Blackboy Hill. After 6 weeks in Blackboy Hill camp Joseph was allocated to the 12th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion.
At Rollestone in England he was charged with altering details in his pay book and fined 16 days pay. He Spent considerable time in both Egypt and England before moving to France on 25 Sep 1917 to join his battalion, including a hospital visit with tonsillitis while in Rollestone with the 4th Infantry Training Battalion.
Joined the 28th Battalion on the 5th Oct 1917 in France, the day after his unit was involved in taking Broodseinde Ridge. It is unlikely that he would have been rushed into the front line, despite their casualties of 42 killed, 5 Missing, and 91 wounded. The 28th Battalion retired from the front line trenches on 6 October 1917 to bivouacs on Bellewarde Ridge.
Joseph remained with his unit until 1 Oct 1918 when he was given 18 days leave in England. While being processed for return to Australia he was AWOL for 4 days, and had another bout of tonsillitis during the voyage home.
Discharged by 5th Military District 22 Aug 1919
"Assistant Scoutmaster Armadale Troup, enlisted January, 1916; sailed on 9th April with the 12th Reinforcements for the 28th Battalion. A good cornet player placed in the band at Salisbury Plains."[1]
The newspaper lists Joseph as one of the 1,360 West Australians returning to Fremantle on the troopship SS Somalia.[2]
Post War
Electoral Roll entries - 1921 he has moved to Coolup where he was an orchardist, but in 1926 he was in Zoe street, Bunbury with wife Amy Gladys who he married in 1923, working as a labourer.
While at Zoe street a son Clyde Alexander James was born 25 Sep 1926 and on 12 Jul 1929 Keith Reginald was born; 1931-36 at 37 Beach road, Bunbury where a third son was born on 4 Sep 1938; 1937-54 at 68 Beach road, Bunbury; 1958 - 1980 at 63 Beach road (1968 - 80 son? Brian Dennis also at this address). Amy died on 25 Oct 1990, aged 88.
During WW2 Joseph served as a lance Corporal member of the Western Command Band from 18 Oct 1940 until 20 Nov 1945.
References
- ↑ "The Drill of the Foot-Hills" (PDF) (1917). Western Australia. Mar 1917. p. 6. Retrieved 16 May 2017 – via State Library of Western Australia.
- ↑ "RETURNING SOLDIERS.". The West Australian. XXXV, (5,372). Western Australia. 26 June 1919. p. 6. Retrieved 22 June 2017 – via National Library of Australia.