Herbert Lewis Battams
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | not known |
| Place of Birth | Luton, England |
| Death | 16 Jul 1980 |
| Place of Death | Victoria Park, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 25 years, 1 month |
| Description | 5'2¼" (1.58m) tall; weight 126 lbs (57.2 kg); fair complexion, grey eyes, light brown hair. |
| Occupation | labourer |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Castler Hotel York, Western Austraia |
| Next of Kin | Mother Mrs E Battams |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 2834 |
| Date of Enlistment | 16 Jul 1915 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit/Formation | 12th Battalion, 9th reinforcement / 3rd brigade, 1st Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 4 Oct 1915 - 27 Oct 1915 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A20 Hororata |
| Date of Return | 9 Dec 1919 - 19 Jan 1920 |
| Ship Returned On | HMAT A30 Borda |
| Fate |
Wounded in Action 11 Aug 1916 Mouquet Farm Wounded in Action 13 May 1918 Somme Wounded in Action 23 Aug 1918 Chuignes Returned to Australia |
| Monument | Jarrahdale |
Pre War
War Service
Joined the 12th Bn at Tel-el-Kebir in Egypt on 7 Jan 1916, and travels with them onboard HMT Corsican from Alexandria to Marseilles in France, arriving on 5 Apr 1916 where they entrain for St Omer in northern France. Here they catch another train to Strazele.
Embarked on HMHS St Denis on 12 Aug 1916 suffering with Shell shock, and is admitted to the 5th Southern General Hospital in Portsmouth the same day. During his recuperation he takes a couple of days leave without permission and is awarded 2 days punishment along with pay forfeiture. On 28 Oct 1916 he is sent to hospital again to have haemorrhoids dealt with.
Returned to France on 24 Jan 1917 and rejoined the battalion on 12 Apr 1917 before being appointed a Lance Corporal on 10 Many1917, then temporarily promoted to Corporal on 21 Jun 1917 (later confirmed on 8 Jul 1917).
On 21 Jul 1917 he was detached to the 3rd Training Battalion at Perham Downs in England, before returning to his battalion in France in early October 1917. On 1 Feb 1918 he was made a temporary Sergeant, and confirmed in the rank on 18 Apr 1918.
Admitted to hospital a second time on 15 May 1918 following a gas attack on 13 May. Recovered he was released from hospital on 31 May 1918. Three weeks later he needed another stint in hospital before being released back to the battalion on 17 Aug 1918. On 23 AUg 1918 he was wounded in action for a third time, this time with a Gun Shot Wound to his right thigh. This necessitated an evacuation to the UK for treatment and it wasn't until 12 Dec 1918 that he was able to return to duty, albeit with the AIF HQ in London.
On 21 Sep 1919 he was detached to the 12th Battalion again, and placed on indefinite leave awaiting a ship for married couples.
Casualty List 216 reported his being wounded; Casualty List 409 his brush with a gas attack; and his third WIA, was reported on Casualty List 437. These casualty lists appeared in all the papers of the day.
Discharged 5th Military District 27 Mar 1920.
Post War
Married Frances Hannah Trigg on 23 Nov 1918 in Islington, London. (Possible daughter Dorothy Frances Battams b. 15 Jan 1925 in Subiaco served in the Militia with Reg No Wf94984. Possible son Ronald Henry born c 1928, died 13 Aug 2004). Herbert returned to Australia accompanied by his wife aboard HMAT A30 Borda.[1] Hannah died in Victoria Park on 24 Nov 1980, aged 88 four months after Herbert died.
Electoral Roll entries - 1922 - 1925 Herbert and Frances were in Perenjori - he as a fettler.
Returning from Pemberton on the evening of December 8, Mr. Walter Palmer, manager of Manjimup butter factory, was driving a motor truck, with Messrs. Harry James and. H. L. Battam as companions. At an awkward corner near Jardee the truck struck a stump, and Mr. James, who is engineer in charge of the electric lighting plant at Manjimup, received a severe cut on the chin from the broken windscreen. Messrs. Palmer, and Battams escaped with a shaking.[2]
By 1931 they have moved to 51 Collier street, Manjimup. In 1936-1937 Frances is not with Herbert who is described as a railway employee; 1943 - 1963 they are both at 51 Forrest avenue, Bunbury, a fitter; 1968 retired at 18 Hayward street, Meltham; 1977 at 61 Kitchener avenue, Victoria Park; 1980 Herbert by himself on the roll.