Difference between revisions of "Norman Leslie Skewes"
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Revision as of 15:35, 25 April 2017
Western Mail 5 Jul 1918 p.7s | |
Personal Information | |
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Date of Birth | 17 Sep 1883 |
Place of Birth | Port Adelaide, South Australia |
Death | 30 Aug 1956, aged 72 |
Place of Death | Gnowangerup, Western Australia |
Age at Enlistment | 31 years, 7 months |
Description | 5' 9 3/4" (1.77m) tall; weight 176 lbs (70.8 kg); fresh complexion, light blue eyes, reddy brown hair. |
Occupation | farmer |
Religion | Congregational |
Address | 'Kenwyn', Armadale, Western Australia |
Next of Kin | Wife Mrs Mabel Skewes |
Military Information | |
Reg Number | 2516 |
Date of Enlistment | 10 May 1916 |
Rank | Sergeant |
Unit/Formation | 44th Battalion, 5th Reinforcement / 11th Brigade, 3rd Division |
Date of Embarkation | 9 Nov 1916 - 10 Jan 1917 |
Ship Embarked On | HMAT A8 Argyllshire |
Date of Return | 21 Mar 1919 - 27 Apr 1919 |
Ship Returned On | SS Kildonan Castle |
Fate |
Wounded in Action 6 Apr 1918 2nd Dernancourt Returned to Australia |
Monument |
Armadale (Bedfordale panel) Bedfordale Honour Board Armadale Congregational Church Honour Board |
Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Electoral Roll entries - 1906 at 401 Newcastle street, West Perth, operator; 1910 - 1916 at 'Kenwyn', Armadale (Bedfordale), orchardist Married Mabel Ullahorne in 1912 in Leederville. Mabel died 23 Oct 1970 in Scarborough aged 82. Children Marjorie (10 Jun 1913 - ) Kathleen N (5 Aug 1916 - ).
War Service
Entered training at Blackboy Hill on 10 May 1916, and soon after attended the No4 NCO's School run in Claremont. Acted as Corporal from 8 Jul 1916 till 30 Sep 1916 after which he was acting Sergeant.
On arrival in England Norman was initially posted to the 11th Training Battalion (Durrington) staff where he reverted to Cpl for a time before again acting as Sergeant. He spent a fortnight in the Tidworth Military Hospital during the 8 months he was a member of the permanent cadre of the training battalion before proceeding overseas on 4 Dec 1917 from Southampton.
He joined the 44th Battalion on 9 Dec 1917 near Ploegsteert in Belgium, reverting again to Corporal. On 6 Apr 1918 the 44th Battalion were holding the line where the Australians had stopped the German attack between Le Hamel on the southern side of the Somme, and Sailly-le-Sec on the northern side. The only mention in the battalion's War Diary of Other Rank (OR) casualties on the day he was recorded as being wounded, relates to three wounded casualties during a patrol during the darkness, before dawn.
Norman suffered a GSW to his left forearm causing a fracture, and passed through the 11th Field Ambulance and the 4th General Hospital before being evacuated on HMHS Newhaven to England on the 11th, where he was admitted to the 4th Southern General Hospital in Plymouth the next day 12 Apr 1918.
Recovering after treatment and spending time rebuilding his strength in the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, on 15 Aug 1918 he again proceeded to France from Folkestone, joining the Australian Infantry Base Depot (AIBD) in Rouelles for a few days until transport to the 44th Battalion was available. At that time they were in the Chipilly area. This is about 5 - 8 km from Sailley-le-Sec where he had been wounded four months earlier.
On 13 Sep 1918 he was appointed Lance Sergeant, and on 8 Oct 1918 promoted again to Sergeant. He remained with the battalion in France until 23 Feb 1919 when he moved to England for early repatriation to Australia.
Discharged at 5th Military District 12 Jun 1919.
"... Sailed as a sergeant with the 5th Reinforcements of the 11th Battalion..."[1]
Post War
Additional children arrived - Joyce Rita (1921 - 31 Dec 2015; married Thomas Herbert Hams 9 Oct 1942); and son David Thomas (b. 7 May 1924 - RAAF Officer from 1942).
Mentioned in Jun 1922 edition of "The Listening Post" as wielding the baton at an Armadale RSL Glee Party.
Electoral Roll entries - 1925 - 1931 at "Kenwyn", Armadale, an orchardist with Mabel; 1936 - 1937 Norman alone at Broome Hill, manager; 1938 - 1954 now in Tonganup street, Gnowangerup with Mabel, an accountant.
From 1938 Norman played an active role in the Gnowangerup RSL Sub branch, and other community bodies, including the local Volunteer Defence Corps during WW2. Enlisted in the militia with Regimental No W71014.
Notes
- ↑ The Drill of the Foot-Hills 1917 Feb-Mar edition p.10