Eugene Anthony Gillespie
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 21 Dec 1886 |
| Place of Birth | Whyte Yarcowie, South Australia |
| Death | 1951 |
| Place of Death | Katanning, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 30 years, 6 months |
| Description |
5' 6 1/4" (1.68m) tall ; 180 lbs 81.647 kg ; fresh complexion ; blue eyes ; dark brown hair |
| Occupation | Agent |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Armadale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Wife , Mrs Margaret Dorothy Gillespie |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 7743 |
| Date of Enlistment | 7 Jun 1917 |
| Rank | Sapper |
| Unit/Formation | 16th Battalion, 26th Reinforcement Transferred to 4th Australian Broad Gauge Railway Operating Coy |
| Date of Embarkation | 1 Aug 1817 ‒ 21 Sep 1917 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A7 Medic Sydney to Halifax |
| Date of Embarkation | 22 Sep 1917 ‒ 3 Oct 1917 |
| Ship Embarked On | SS Orissa Halifax to Liverpool |
| Date of Return | 18 Jan 1919 ‒ 23 Jan 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | HMAT A38 Ulysses Devonport to Gibraltar |
| Date of Return | 14 Feb 1919 ‒ 17 Mar 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | HMAT A11 Ascanius Gibraltar to Fremantle |
| Fate | Returned to Australia (medical) |
| Monument | none currently |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Married Margaret Dorothy Tomlinson, from Armadale, in 1913 in the Katanning district. Electoral Roll entries - 1912 - 1917 list him as a book keeper at Gnowangerup. Son John Reginald Gillespie was born in Armadale on 15 Feb 1916.
War Service
Early records missing, but would appear to have received some basic training at Blackboy Hill camp before being identified for specialist training in New South Wales. Eugene departed Sydney, and unusually, travelled via the east coast of the USA to Liverpool in England. Nothing in his records indicate why he had been sent overseas from Sydney instead of Fremantle.
On arrival in England, Eugene was sent to the 4th Training Battalion at Codford to prepare for service on the Western Front. A month later he transferred to the 13th Training Battalion and on 16 Jan 1918 he was dispatched to France via Southampton.
Eugene joined the 16th Battalion near Kemmel between Ypres and Messines on 26 Jan 1918 along with 3 officers and 89 other ranks.
On 21 May 1918 he was referred to a medical board for assessment, and as a result, was transferred to the 4th Australian Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company based at Dunkirk on 7 Jun 1918. Eugene remained with them until he was granted an early return to Australia due to deficient hearing in January 1919. He developed influenza on the way home, and was off loaded at Gibraltar and admitted to the Gibraltar General Hospital from 23 Jan to 10 Feb 1919. Recovered, he then completed the homeward journey aboard HMAT A11 Ascanius. Home, he was discharged by the 5th Military District on 17 Apr 1919.
Post War
Electoral Roll entries - 1921 - 1949 he was a farmer at Pallingup near Broome Hill. Children Eugene Walter (1914 - 1997); John Reginald (1916 - 2011); (Douglas Claude 31 Jul 1923 - 1923)
References