Gustaf Adolf Olson

Gustaf Adolf Olson

Personal Information
Date of Birth	not known 1886
Place of Birth	Westergoland, Sweden
Death	7 Jul 1954, aged 68
Place of Death	Fremantle, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	29 years, 2 months
Description	5'6½" (1.69m) tall ; 140 lbs 63.503 kg ; fair complexion ; green eyes ; fair hair
Occupation	Timber hewer
Religion	Church of England
Address	Bush Landing, Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Peter Olson
Military Information
Reg Number	1681
Date of Enlistment	12 Jan 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	44th Battalion, 1st reinforcement / 11th Brigade, 3rd Division
Date of Embarkation	6 Jun 1916 ‒ 21 Jul 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A29 Suevic
Date of Return	1 Jun 1919 ‒ 8 Jul 1919
Ship Returned On	SS Somali
Fate	Wounded in Action 1 Aug 1917 Messines sector Returned to Australia
Monument	Jarrahdale Honour Roll ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford)
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

Soon after entering Blackboy Hill camp, on 4 Feb 1916 Gustaf was allocated to artillery reinforcements, but on 1 Mar 1916 he was reallocated to the 1st reinforcement draft for the 44th Battalion and travelled with them to England.

On arrival in England he was sent to a Training Battalion before being taken on strength by the 44th Battalion on 13 Oct 1916 at Lark Hill. Soon after, on 25 Nov 1916 the battalion proceeded overseas to France via Southampton and moved into reserve at Steenwerck. On 24 Jul 1917 he was charged with being AWOL from 9:30pm on 21 July until 6:00am 22 Jul 1917, for which when found guilty he was to forfeit 4 days pay.

On 1 Aug 1917 the 44th Battalion were in the front line near Messines. The only enemy action that day was active shelling by the enemy of their trenches and Roman Posts, with Gustaf receiving shell wounds to his forearm, right ankle and both legs. Seen first by the 11th Australian Field Ambulance, on 2 Aug 1917 he was passed to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station before being transported to the 22nd general Hospital on the coast at Camiers where he was admitted on 3 Aug 1917.

On 8 Aug 1917 he was embarked on HS Ville de Liege for England, and admitted to the 3rd General Hospital, Oxford the next day for treatment. Recovering he was moved to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital on 17 Sep 1917, and then on 24 Sep 1917 to No.2 Command Depot.

After spending some time in Weymouth (No.2 Command Depot) recuperating, he was transferred on 18 Jan 1918 to the Overseas Training Battalion at Longford Deverill and then on 1 Feb 1918 he was again sent to France through Southampton. On 9 Feb 1918 he had rejoined the 44th Battalion at Nieppe where they were training before going back into the front lines.

Gustaf remained with the battalion for the rest of hostilities, participating in the constant battles as the Australians fought their way up the Somme valley, and on 20 Jan 1919 he was rewarded with furlough in England, rejoining the battalion on 11 Feb 1919. On 2 Apr 1919 he began the journey back to Australia, moving first to a base in France, and from there to England, and then Australia.

Discharged 5th Military District 22 Aug 1919.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries - 1943 at 16 Ord street, Fremantle, seaman; 1954 at 12 Holdsworth street, Fremantle, no occupation In July 1948 is living in 12 Holdsworth street, Fremantle when he requested a copy of his discharge in order to apply for a service pension, aged 62..

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial