Henry George Price

Henry George Price

Henry in WW2 uniform. photo courtesy Helen Clark
Birtwistle collection
Personal Information
Date of Birth	12 Apr 1882
Place of Birth	London, England
Death	6 Sep 1955, aged 74
Place of Death	Armadale, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	33 years, 1 month
Description	5'5½" (1.66m) tall ; 154 lbs 69.853 kg ; fresh complexion ; hazel eyes ; dark hair
Occupation	Sleeper hewer
Religion	Church of England
Address	Armadale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs. Margaret Price
Military Information
Reg Number	1085 & W28697
Date of Enlistment	24 May 1915
Rank	Corporal
Unit/Formation	28th Battalion, C Company transferred to 22nd Machine Gun Company / 2nd Division
Date of Embarkation	9 Jun 1915 ‒ 30 Jun 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A11 Ascanius
Date of Return	9 Dec 1918 ‒ 15 Jan 1919
Ship Returned On	SS Leicestershire England to Fremantle
Fate	Returned to Australia WW1 Remained in Australia WW2
Monument	Armadale War Memorial (West Armadale panel) Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

In England he had spent 2 years 4 months as a member of the 4th Middlesex Volunteers before serving in the South African Constabulary during and after the Boer War (6 years 10 months).

Henry married Margaret Victoria Fowler in the Canning district in 1914. Electoral Roll entries -1910, Armadale, gardener

WW I Service

Entering Blackboy Hill camp, Henry was allocated to the 7th reinforcement draft for the 11th Battalion, but then transferred to 'C' Company of the 28th Battalion, being raised at that time for overseas service.

He served with the 28th Battalion at Gallipoli, arriving there with them on 10 Sep 1915 aboard the HMT Ivernia via Lemnos Island where they had transferred to the HMS Sarnia for the journey from Mudros harbour to Anzac Cove. While on Gallipoli he was promoted Lance Corporal on 18 Oct 1915 & Temporary Corporal on 10 Dec 1915. Evacuated with the rest of the battalion to Mudros aboard HMT Osmanieh, arriving there on 14 Dec 1915. Returned to Egypt from Mudros on HMT Ausonia 7 - 10 Jan 1916 where his promotion to Corporal was confirmed at Tel-el-Kebir on 5 Feb 1916.

Travelled to France with the 28th Battalion aboard HMAT A32 Themistocles, arriving in Marseilles on 21 Mar 1916, and was attached to the Anzac Kit Base. On 30 Jun 1916 he was detached to the 2nd Australian General Hospital for a fortnight and then moved to England briefly to join the Anzac Base Detachment before proceeding overseas to Étaples in France on 17 Aug 1916.

Transferred to the 22nd Australian Machine Gun Company on 20 Apr 1917 and in July attended the Machine Gun Training Depot in Grantham, England where he remained as part of their training staff before being one of the first to be sent home.

Returned to Australia as an invalid (bunion), and Discharged 5th Military District 15 May 1919. The only one of three brothers serving overseas that came home.

"... Fought in Gallipoli; took part in the evacuation; was promoted to corporal; now serving in France. He also served in the Boer War."

WW II Service

Henry enlisted on 11 Oct 1940 in Perth and was allocated to the Western Command Training Depot AAMC Northam. On 8 Jul 1941 he was transferred to the 290th Dental Unit, and then on 23 Nov 1942 to the 75th Australian Dental Unit's 'F' Section. On 26 December 1942 he was sent to 'D' Section at Albany. A year later, on 4 Dec 1943 Henry entrained for the Northern Territory, arriving at Larrimah on 16 Dec 1943. On 9 Jan 1943 Henry was treated by the 74th Australian Camp Hospital for Diarrhoea, returning to his unit on 16 Jan 1944.

On 1 Jul 1944 he was considered to be Proficient and he then received the small pay increase that went with it. On 9 Sep 1944 Henry was granted leave in Western Australia, and he then reported to the New South Wales Recruit Reception & General Details Depot for reassignment on 15 Oct 1944. Posted to the 76th Australian Dental Unit, he was detached to the 66th Australian Dental Unit from 13 Nov 1944 until 28 Jan 1945, and from 19 Feb - 30 Aug 1945 to the 62nd Australian Dental Unit. On 5 Sep 1945 Henry was posted to the 64th Australian Dental Unit.

On 4 Sep 1946 Henry was admitted to the 110th Australian Base Hospital with suspected coronary insufficiency(?). When Henry's unit was disbanded on 24 Jan 1947 he was still in hospital, and was therefore transferred to the Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot in absentia. On 3 Feb 1947 Henry was discharged from hospital, to be discharged on 5 Feb 1947, aged 61.

Henry's total service in all theatres of war, and beyond totaled 19 years, 5 months.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries - 1916 - 31 Maggie is at Tenth road, Armadale, 1925 a farmer in Armadale. 1936 - 1954 in Fifth road, Armadale.

Maggie died 18 Jun 1960 aged 70.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial

Category:Church of England ww2]]