Difference between revisions of "Keith Herbert Sloan"
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This delayed his entry to France until 9 Oct 1917, and so he was not taken on strength by the battalion until 14 Oct 1917 at Montauban Camp near Steenvorde where they are recovering after taking heavy losses on Broodseinde Ridge. Before they were ready to be thrown back into the fray they were needed to participate in the Battle of the Ancre. The 28th Battalion's attack at Gird Trench failed and they were driven back sustaining heavy loses. Withdrawn from the line on 19 Nov 1916, they moved back, first to Fricourt and then to billets at Buire where Keith wrote home ''"It is surprising how warm it is while the snow is about. We had some good fun, three of us went out to have a fight with snowballs. There were two of us onto one big chap. We were going for a good while when I threw one from behind and just as I did he looked around and caught it fair in he eye so then he was picking snow out of his eye for the next fine minutes."''<ref>The Blue & White Diamond - 28th Battalion, Neville Browning, Advance Press, Page 226</ref> | This delayed his entry to France until 9 Oct 1917, and so he was not taken on strength by the battalion until 14 Oct 1917 at Montauban Camp near Steenvorde where they are recovering after taking heavy losses on Broodseinde Ridge. Before they were ready to be thrown back into the fray they were needed to participate in the Battle of the Ancre. The 28th Battalion's attack at Gird Trench failed and they were driven back sustaining heavy loses. Withdrawn from the line on 19 Nov 1916, they moved back, first to Fricourt and then to billets at Buire where Keith wrote home ''"It is surprising how warm it is while the snow is about. We had some good fun, three of us went out to have a fight with snowballs. There were two of us onto one big chap. We were going for a good while when I threw one from behind and just as I did he looked around and caught it fair in he eye so then he was picking snow out of his eye for the next fine minutes."''<ref>The Blue & White Diamond - 28th Battalion, Neville Browning, Advance Press, Page 226</ref> | ||
| − | In July 1917 the battalion was training in the Flanders region when Keith wrote ''"I have been out on the range shooting and came second in all the practice. The chap that beat me is a Boer War soldier and has about twelve years service, so I could hardly expect to beat him. We started our final test yesterday, but was too wet today to carry on with the shooting. I have got 42 marks out of 50 so far. If I get 125 out of 175, I will get a First Class Marksman and be entitled to wear the crossed rifles on my left forearm."''<ref>The Blue & White Diamond. Neville Browning. Advance Press, page 296.</ref> | + | In July 1917 the battalion was training in the Flanders region when Keith wrote ''"I have been out on the range shooting and came second in all the practice. The chap that beat me is a Boer War soldier and has about twelve years service, so I could hardly expect to beat him. We started our final test yesterday, but was too wet today to carry on with the shooting. I have got 42 marks out of 50 so far. If I get 125 out of 175, I will get a First Class Marksman and be entitled to wear the crossed rifles on my left forearm."''<ref>The Blue & White Diamond - 28th Battalion. Neville Browning. Advance Press, page 296.</ref> |
In May 1918 he was seen by the 6th Australian Field Ambulance and sent on to the 4th Casualty Clearing Station, and the 3rd Stationary Hospital in Rouen before being evacuated to the Exeter War Hospital with what was described as a slight case of Trench Fever. [During May the 28th Battalion lost 112 men to hospital sick, in addition to 152 war caused injuries.] | In May 1918 he was seen by the 6th Australian Field Ambulance and sent on to the 4th Casualty Clearing Station, and the 3rd Stationary Hospital in Rouen before being evacuated to the Exeter War Hospital with what was described as a slight case of Trench Fever. [During May the 28th Battalion lost 112 men to hospital sick, in addition to 152 war caused injuries.] | ||
Revision as of 17:59, 15 January 2018
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| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | unknown |
| Place of Birth | Perth, Western Australia |
| Death | 23 Nov 1980 |
| Place of Death | Cottesloe, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 18 years, 9 months |
| Description | 5'3" (1.60m) tall; weight 120 lbs (54.4 kg); fresh complexion, brown eyes, dark brown hair, |
| Occupation | brickyard employee |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | 'Dunrolun', Armadale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Mother Mrs Clara Sloan |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 4793 |
| Date of Enlistment | 21 Feb 1916 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 28th Battalion, 12th Reinforcements / 7th Brigade, 4th Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 17 Apr 1916 - 14 May 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A60 Aeneas |
| Date of Return | 16 Jun 1919 - 24 Jul 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | RMS Ormonde |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument |
Armadale War Memorial (Armadale panel) Armadale Congregational Church Honour Board Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
War Service
Allocated to the 12th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion on 1 Apr 1916 six weeks after entering Blackboy Hill camp.
Soon after his arrival in England, he required a stay in Fargo Military Hospital to deal with bronchitis, and again in Jun 1917. In between he was with the 7th Training Battalion at Rollestone.
This delayed his entry to France until 9 Oct 1917, and so he was not taken on strength by the battalion until 14 Oct 1917 at Montauban Camp near Steenvorde where they are recovering after taking heavy losses on Broodseinde Ridge. Before they were ready to be thrown back into the fray they were needed to participate in the Battle of the Ancre. The 28th Battalion's attack at Gird Trench failed and they were driven back sustaining heavy loses. Withdrawn from the line on 19 Nov 1916, they moved back, first to Fricourt and then to billets at Buire where Keith wrote home "It is surprising how warm it is while the snow is about. We had some good fun, three of us went out to have a fight with snowballs. There were two of us onto one big chap. We were going for a good while when I threw one from behind and just as I did he looked around and caught it fair in he eye so then he was picking snow out of his eye for the next fine minutes."[1]
In July 1917 the battalion was training in the Flanders region when Keith wrote "I have been out on the range shooting and came second in all the practice. The chap that beat me is a Boer War soldier and has about twelve years service, so I could hardly expect to beat him. We started our final test yesterday, but was too wet today to carry on with the shooting. I have got 42 marks out of 50 so far. If I get 125 out of 175, I will get a First Class Marksman and be entitled to wear the crossed rifles on my left forearm."[2]
In May 1918 he was seen by the 6th Australian Field Ambulance and sent on to the 4th Casualty Clearing Station, and the 3rd Stationary Hospital in Rouen before being evacuated to the Exeter War Hospital with what was described as a slight case of Trench Fever. [During May the 28th Battalion lost 112 men to hospital sick, in addition to 152 war caused injuries.]
Transferred to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford, he was then released to the No 3 Command Depot in Hurdcott before transferring a month later to the No 1 Command Depot in Sutton Veny. Found to be fit to return to duty he travelled to France again on 6 Nov 1918, rejoining his battalion two days later at Berteaucourt.
On 13 Apr 1919 he proceeded to England to begin his journey home to Australia.
Discharged 5th Military District 8 Sep 1919.
"..enlisted in January, 1916, and sailed with the 12th Reinforcements of the 28th Battalion on 9th April, 1916. Salisbury camp.".[3]
Post War
In 1923 married Amelia (Lena) Budd Godwin who died on 16 Aug 1984, aged 78. Electoral Roll entries - 1922 at 16 Silas street, South Fremantle, a labourer, with mother Clara. 1925 with Lena at 57 Wardle street; 1931 shopkeepers at 168 Mandurah road, South Fremantle; 1936 & 1937 shop assistant at 12 Harvey street Buckland Hill, Claremont; 1943 a grocer at 133 Stirling Highway, Cottesloe; 1949 grocer at 495 Stirling Highway, Cottesloe, with daughter Beryl Jean (1927 - ?? ) as bookkeeper; 1954 Beryl moved, and brother Keith Budd (1929 - ?? ) listed as clerk; 1958 - 1980 Keith and Lena only.
References
- ↑ The Blue & White Diamond - 28th Battalion, Neville Browning, Advance Press, Page 226
- ↑ The Blue & White Diamond - 28th Battalion. Neville Browning. Advance Press, page 296.
- ↑ "The Drill of the Foot-Hills" (PDF) (1917). Western Australia. Mar 1917. p. 6. Retrieved 16 May 2017 – via State Library of Western Australia.