Harold Empsall

Harold Empsall

Personal Information
Date of Birth	Not known
Place of Birth	Liverpool, England
Age at Enlistment	19 years, 6 months
Description	5'4" (1.63m) tall ; 120lbs 54.431 kg ; fair complexion ; grey eyes ; light brown hair
Occupation	Shop assistant
Religion	Church of England
Address	Maddington, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Alfred Empsall
Military Information
Reg Number	[ 5596]
Date of Enlistment	4 Apr 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	28th Battalion, 15th Reinforcement
Date of Embarkation	26 Sep 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A52 Surada
Date of Return	23 Jul 1919 ‒ 27 Sep 1919
Ship Returned On	SS Main
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	none at present
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

Entered camp on 4 Apr 1916, and it was on 1 May 1916 that he was allocated to the 15th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion. He travelled with them to England, arriving in Plymouth before being sent to the 7th Training Battalion to prepare for service in France and Belgium.

Harold travelled overseas to France from Folkestone aboard HMT Princesse Clementine on 21 Dec 1916, and initially was held at the 2nd Division Base Depot in Étaples. On 18 Jan 1917 he and 100 others were taken on strength by the 28th Battalion who at that time were in billets at Buire training and rebuilding.

On 28 Jul 1917 he reported sick, and was seen first by the 5th Australian Field Ambulance before being sent to the 29th Casualty Clearing Station who treated him from 28 Jul - 12 Aug 1917. On 13 Aug 1917 he was passed to the 9th General Hospital in Rouen before on 25 Aug 1917 when he was evacuated aboard HMHS Aberdonian to England for treatment for Trench Fever (severe case). On arrival in England he was admitted to the 1st Southern General Hospital in Birmingham. Released from hospital on 24 Sep 1917, he was granted leave until 8 Oct 1917.

After a few days in No.4 Command Depot at Hurdcott, he was sent to the Overseas Training Brigade in Longbridge Deverill. On 3 Jan 1918 Harold was again fit for the front line and proceeded overseas to France through Southampton, rejoining his battalion on 9 Jan 1918.

Granted leave in the UK from 5 Nov - 19 Nov 1918, he had rejoined his battalion on 24 Nov 1918. On 11 Mar 1919 he reported to the 5th Australian Field Ambulance with VD before being transferred to the 55th Casualty Clearing Station who treated him until 13 Mar 1918 when he was placed on Ambulance Train No.15 which transported him to the 7th General Hospital where on 15 Mar 1919 he was admitted with syphilis. On 19 Mar 1919 he was evacuated to England where he was admitted to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Codford, until 22 Mar 1919. On 22 Mar 1919 Harold was discharged from hospital before being released to the Command Depot at Sutton Veny.

Harold was ill once more on 10 Jun 1919 when he entered 1st Australian General Hospital for treatment for hepatitis. On 3 Jul 1919 he was released to return to Australia

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