Henry John Robert Saint

Henry John Robert Saint

Personal Information
Date of Birth	Not known
Place of Birth	Speedhurst, Tunbridge Wells, England
Death	8 Nov 1941
Place of Death	Cheltenham, Sydney, New South Wales
Age at Enlistment	40 years, 10 months
Description	5'6" tall ; 140lbs 63.503 kg ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; dark hair
Occupation	Farmer
Religion	Church of England
Address	Henry street, East Cannington, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs Gertrude M Saint
Military Information
Reg Number	981
Date of Enlistment	10 Sep 1914
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	12th Battalion
Date of Embarkation	2 Nov 1914
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A7 Medic
Fate	WIA Gallipoli
Monument	none at present
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Had served prior to arrival in Australia with the South African Mounted Irregulars for 2 years.

War Service

Enlisted at a time when the 12th Battalion (joint SA and WA) was being raised, he trained with them, and travelled to Egypt. It appears that he was with them when they travelled aboard SS Devanha to Gallipoli vis Lemnos Island, arriving at Mudros Harbour on 4 Mar 1915. Off Anzac Cove the men transferred to Destroyers and then boat towed by steam pinnaces, landing at 4:00am on the shores of Gallipoli.

Henry's records include an entry dated 8 Aug 1915 noting that he had a shell wound to his left leg and was treated aboard HMT Tunisian. Other entries place him in Mustapha a base camp in Egypt during early May, so the injury was sustained in the early days of the landing during April. At Mustapha, Egypt he was AWOL from 4:00pm 5 May 1915 until 11:00am on 8 May 1915. His penalty was the loss of 4 days pay

He returned to Gallipoli on HMT Cawdor Castle on 10 Aug 1915, and rejoined the 12th Battalion on 15 Aug 1915.

On 4 Sep 1915 Henry was ill with diarrhoea, and after being seen by the 1st Australian Field Ambulance, he was evacuated from Gallipoli to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station at Mudros on 7 Sep 1915. Diagnosed with measles, he was transferred on 17 Sep 1915 to the 24th Convalescent Depot. Released to the base depot on 7 Oct 1915, and diagnosed with 'debility', he was initially evacuated to Gibraltar on 7 Oct 1915 from Alexandria aboard HMT Caledonia arriving 15 Oct 1915 before being passed on to England aboard HMHS Franconia on 8 Nov 1915. On arrival in England he was admitted to the 4th Southern General Hospital in Plymouth.

Held in the Monte Video camp at Weymouth from 1 Jun until 28 Jun 1916. During that time on 8 Jan 1916 he was charged with "failing to obey a lawful order" For this he was awarded 48 hours detention. He was also debited for the loss of kit. Next, from 28 Jun 1918, he was transferred to No. 1 Command Depot Perham Downs, near Salisbury. Here he was AWOL from midnight 13 Jul 1916 until 8:30pm on 19 Jul 1916, and for this he forfeited 8 day's pay. On 21 Nov 1916 Henry was transferred to No. 4 Command Depot

On 29 May 1917 after moving from one Command Depot to another between 1 Jun 1916 and 18 May 1917, Henry proceeded overseas to France on 29 May 1917 via Southampton. After a period in the 1st Division's Base Depot at Le Havre, Henry joined the 12th Battalion on 18 Jun 1917 near Ribemont after an absence of 21 months. A month later, on 20 Jul 1917 he was transferred to the 1st Anzac Corps School and proceeded to Tidworth in England. On 19 Sep 197 he was admitted to the Military Hospital in Swanage with scabies, and on 28 Sep 1917 transferred to the1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital. Here he was granted furlough from 15 - 29 Oct 1917, with instructions to report to Weymouth. Having requested a discharge in the UK, he was returned to London on 13 Dec 1917 to prepare for same.

Discharged on 14 Dec 1917 in London, being permanently unfit for further duty. Henry and his family were awarded pensions from 15 Dec 1917 and on 20 Jun 1918 they were increased to: Henry 30/- per fortnight, his wife Gertrude Mary a pension of 15/-p.f., and their children John Lionel Francis 10/- p.f.; Dorothy Elizabeth 7/6d p.f.; and Phillip Henry 5/- p.f.

External Links

[[Category:]]Church of England