Harold Empsall

Harold Empsall

Personal Information
Date of Birth	c1896
Place of Birth	Liverpool, England
Death	31 Aug 1940
Place of Death	Victoria Park, Western Australia
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	5586
Date of Enlistment	4 Apr 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	28th Battalion, 15th Reinforcement
Date of Embarkation	22 Sep 1916 ‒ 20 Nov 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 aboard HMAT A52 Surada from Fremantle for England, arriving in Plymouth and disembarking on 20 Nov 1916. On arrival he was 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 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 Field Ambulance with Venereal Disease 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. He boarded the SS Main on 23 Jul 1919 and disembarked in Fremantle on 27 Sep 1919. Harold was discharged by the 5th Military District on 31 Jan 1920.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries: 1925 Great Boulder Hotel, Kalgoorlie, hotel keeper; 1931 Maya (north of Dalwallinu), labourer; 1936 - 1937 at 48 Mc Master street, Victoria Park, billiard marker.

"Accidents Kill Father and Son

A SON whose father was killed a month ago, when returning from a visit to him in hospital, died early yesterday at the Perth Hospital. Both deaths were due to traffic accidents. Yesterday's victim was Harold Empsall (43) of McMaster-street Victoria Park, injured in an accident which occurred on the Causeway on the night of July 11. His father Alfred Empsall (67) of the same address, was knocked down by a utility truck in Albany-road on July 31 when returning from a visit to the hospital to see him. Alfred Empsall died on August 1.

Harold Empsall was riding a bicycle across the Causway when he was knocked down. He suffered injuries for which he had been receiving treatment ever since.