Henry Giles Schmidt

Henry Giles Schmidt

Personal Information
Date of Birth	28 Dec 1886
Place of Birth	Templers, South Australia
Death	30 Nov 1952, aged 80
Place of Death	Kenwick, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	37 years old (was 43)
Description	5'6" (1.68m) tall ; 136lbs 61.689 kg ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; light brown hair
Occupation	Bootmaker
Religion	Church of England
Address	Maddington. Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs Elizabeth Ann Schmidt
Military Information
Reg Number	3457
Date of Enlistment	2 Aug 1915
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	11th Battalion, 11th Reinforcement, transferred to 51st Battalion
Date of Embarkation	2 Nov 1915 ‒ 26 Nov 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A38 Ulysses
Date of Return	4 May 1917 ‒ 24 Jun 1917
Ship Returned On	HMAT A28 Miltiades
Fate	Returned to Australia (medical)
Monument	none at present
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Had served in South Africa for 12 months as a trooper.

A widower with at least one child (daughter Josephine) when he first enlisted, he then married Elizabeth Ann Burkitt in Perth during 1915. His first wife had been Annie Agnes Isabella nee Hailes who he had married in Perth in 1902. Annie died in May 1904 aged 22.

Electoral Roll entry: 1912 Gerard street, Woodlupine (Queens Park), bootmaker

War Service

Henry entered Blackboy Hill camp on 21 Aug 1915, and on 27 Sep 1915 he was allocated to the 11th reinforcement draft for the 11th Battalion, travelling with them to Egypt. On 7 Jan 1916, Henry was taken on strength by the 11th Battalion, before on 1 Mar 1916 when Henry was transferred to the newly formed 51st Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir. Here he was promoted to Sergeant Shoemaker on 4 Apr 1916.

On 5 Jun 1916, along with the rest of the 51st Battalion, Henry boarded HMT Ivernia in Alexandria for Marseilles in southern France, disembarking on 12 Jun 1916. On 26 Aug 1916 Henry was severely reprimanded for irregular conduct (not described) at Hérissart. On 5 Feb 1917 Henry was summarily reduced to the ranks (no reason recorded).

On 11 Feb 1917 he was hospitalised with a sprained right foot in the 2nd General Hospital at Le Havre. On closer examination it was found to be deformed and he was discharged to the base depot in France on 13 Feb 1917. On 9 Apr 1917 Henry was transferred to the 4th Division's Base Depot in Étaples. From here he was sent to England, to No.2 Command Depot at Weymouth, and a day later to No. 1 Command Depot in Perham Downs.

On 4 May 1917 he was shipped home to Australia on basis of senility and his deformed foot. Discharged by the 5th Military District on 16 Jul 1917.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries: 1925 - 1949 Albany road, Kenwick, bootmaker