Jesse Thomas Manser

Jesse Thomas Manser

Jesse with Elizabeth & Maude
Personal Information
Date of Birth	24 Oct 1880
Place of Birth	Willesden, London, England
Death	12 May 1949, aged 67
Place of Death	Smelter's Camp, South Fremantle, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	35 years, 8 months
Description	5'6½" (1.69m) tall ; 126lbs 57.153 kg ; fresh complexion ; brown eyes ; brown hair ; tattoos on both forearms
Occupation	Labourer
Religion	Church of England
Address	Crawford street, East Cannington, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs Elizabeth Manser
Military Information
Reg Number	5572
Date of Enlistment	28 Jun 1915
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	4th Field Ambulance, 10th Reinforcement
Date of Embarkation	13 Oct 1915 ‒ ?? Nov 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A32 Themistocles
Date of Return	15 Mar 1919 ‒ ?? Mar 1919
Ship Returned On	HMT Czaritza England to Alexandria, Egypt
Date of Return	7 Apr 1919 ‒ 6 May 1919
Ship Returned On	HMHS Dunluce Castle Alexandria to Fremantle
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll Canning Honour Roll
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

At the time of his enlistment Jesse was married to Elizabeth Emma (nee Nicholls) with a 5 year old daughter Maude. They had married on 27 Feb 1904 in London before emigrating to Australia. Jesse had prior experience with militia in Middlesex, England (3 years), and had briefly before enlisted in the AIF from 11 to 29 Jan 1915 before being discharged.

Electoral Roll entry: 1916 Cannington, labourer.

War Service

On entering the Blackboy Hill camp he began his training with the 15th Depot Company before being allocated to the 9th reinforcement draft for the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital on 31 Aug 1915. A day later this was to change to the 10th draft for the 4th Field Ambulance and he sailed with them to Egypt. On 4 Dec 1915 he joined the ANZAC Base on Mudros from Alexandria, and was taken on strength by the 4th Australian Field Ambulance at Walden Grove Gallipoli on 7 Dec 1915. On 16 Dec 1915 he disembarked in Alexandria, ex Gallipoli.

On 29 Feb 1916 in Egypt, Jesse was transferred from the 4th Australian Field Ambulance to the 12th Field Ambulance. On 19 May 1916 Jesse suffered with 'heatstroke' requiring medical attention. Along with the rest of his unit Jesse embarked on the HMT Scotian in Alexandria on 4 Jun 1916 for Marseilles, arriving there and disembarking on 11 Jun 1916. In France, he again required medical attention, from 29 Jun 1916 until 2 Jul 1916. Then on 8 Nov 1916 Jesse was charged with being AWOL from 9:30am to 9:30pm on 5 Nov 1916, for which he was awarded 7 days Field Punishment No. 2. On 21 Dec 1916 Jesse was charged with "Conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline in that he did on 21.12.16 urinate in a place not a urinal in the Hospital area. For this he was awarded 4 day's Field Punishment No.2. Suffering with bronchitis on 5 Mar 1917, Jesse was seen by the 45th Casualty Clearing Station, and admitted to the 6th Canadian General Hospital who on 17 Mar 1917 released him to the 6th Convalescent Depot.

On 25 May 1917 Jesse moved again, this time to the 13th Field Ambulance and the following day he was again in trouble, resulting in being charged on 28 May 1917 with "Conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline in that when on a route march on 26 May 1917 he fell out without permission." For his he was awarded 72 hours Field Punishment No. 2.

Jesse was transferred again, on 10 Aug 1917, this time to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station, and again he was quickly in trouble. Granted leave to England from 11 - 26 Sep 1917, on 29 Sep 1917 he was charged with "When on active service absenting himself from his unit without authority whilst on leave in England and exceeded his leave from about 11:30am on 23 Sep 1917 till 11:30pm on 26 Sep 1917." Awarded 124 days Field Punishment NO. 2 and the forfeiture of 18 day's pay. From 15 - 23 Oct 1917 he was hospitalised in France with an illness (not specified). From 7 - 17 Feb 1918 he was granted leave in France.

On 25 Aug 1918 he was again admitted to hospital 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station with fractured Tibia and Fibula, on 5 Sep 1918 he was evacuated to England aboard HS Pieter de Coninck. On arrival in England he was admitted to the Southwark Military Hospital. While in hospital on 13 Nov 1918 he was charged with two offences (1) AWOL from his ward from 9:00pm 11 Nov 1918 till 10pm 12 Nov 1918"; and (2) Breaking into Hospital". Awarded the loss of 4 day's pay. On 4 Dec 1918 he was released to the care of the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford. Released to duty on 10 Dec 1918 he was granted furlough and then to report to Weymouth to prepare for his return to Australia.

Returned to Australia on medical grounds, he was discharged by 5th Military District on 2 Jul 1919

Post War

Daughter Jessie born. Wife Elizabeth predeceased Jesse on 21 Jan 1927 in East Cannington, aged 46.

Electoral Roll entries: 1925 - 1931 Crawford street, East Cannington, Working as a bricklayer.

Jesse's death was subject to a Coroner's enquiry.

BODY FOUND

Jesse Thomas Manser (about 65) was found dead outside his camp at the Smelters, South Fremantle, about 6.45 a.m. today.

The body was removed to Fremantle Hospital Morgue for autopsy but death is believed to have been due to natural causes.