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Bertram Ernest Powell

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Bertram Ernest Powell
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Personal Information
Date of Birth unknown 1890
Place of Birth Guildford, Western Australia
Death 18 Apr 1950, aged 59
Place of Death Moora, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment 25 years, 6 months
Description 5'5" (1.65m) tall ; 134 lbs
60.781 kg
; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; brown hair
Occupation Farm hand
Religion Church of England
Address Armadale, Western Australia
Next of Kin Father , Mr Frederick Elijah Powell
Military Information
Reg Number 5648
Date of Enlistment 5 Apr 1916
Rank Private
Unit/Formation 28th Battalion, 15th Reinforcement / 7th Brigade, 2nd Division
Date of Embarkation 22 Sep 1916 ‒ 20 Nov 1916
Ship Embarked On HMAT A52 Surada
Date of Return 2 Jan 1919 ‒ 10 Feb 1919
Ship Returned On HMAT A35 Berrima
Fate Wounded in Action 11 Aug 1918 at Lihons
Returned to Australia
Monument Armadale War Memorial (West Armadale panel)
Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour
Medals British War Medal
Victory Medal




Pre War

Electoral Roll entries - 1916 - farm hand living in Wungong

War Service

After four weeks as part of the 61st Depot Company, Bertram was allocated to the 15th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion and he then travelled with them to England, aboard HMAT A52 Surada arriving on 20 Nov 1916.

Very quickly after his arrival in England he was sent on to France via the HMT Princesse Clementine from Folkestone (21 Dec 1916).

In France, 6 to 25 Jan 1917 was spent in Segregation Camp, but the reason for this are not included in his records. Soon after being cleared he joined the 28th Battalion from the 2nd Australian Divisional Base Depot in Étaples on 5 Feb 1917. At the time they were being withdrawn temporarily from the front line to rest in Acid Drop Camp.

Bertram remained with the battalion (other than a fortnight's leave in England in Jan/Feb 1918) until he was wounded in the final stages of the battle for Lihons on 11 Aug 1918. During the Lihons battle he received a bullet wound to his right shoulder (severe), and he was taken initially to the 5th Field Ambulance, before being sent back next day to the 55th Casualty Clearing Station, and then on 15 Aug 1918 to the 22nd General Hospital in Camiers. Invalided to the UK on 25 Aug 1918 aboard HMHS Newhaven where he entered the Ilford Emergency Hospital in Colchester, Essex. He spent a total of twelve days in bed before eight weeks convalescing.

Discharged from hospital 2 months later, he joined the No 4 General Depot in Hurdcott on 31 Oct 1918. Here he had a couple of days unauthorised leave, bringing a mild rebuke before his wounds eventually lead to an early return to Australia.

After spending 10 to 21 Feb 1919 in the 8th Australian General Hospital in Fremantle, he was discharged by the 5th Military District on 31 Mar 1919 .

Post War

Electoral Roll entries - 1925 a labourer living in Ninth avenue Armadale; 1936 in Dangin; 1949 in Moora.

No record of marriage before 1936.

One of many men who received relief employment during the 1930 depression from the Armadale-Kelmscott Road Board.

Notes


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