Reginald Grove Sexty MID
From Our Contribution
 A Record of War Service - 28th Battalion p.97 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | unknown |
| Place of Birth | Ross, Herefordshire, England |
| Death | 9 Apr 1966, aged 79 |
| Place of Death | Kelmscott, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 30 years, 3 months |
| Description | 5'9" (1.75m) tall; weight 144 lbs (65.3 kg); fair complexion, blue eyes, fair hair. |
| Occupation | Inspector SCPA (now RSPCA) |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Beaumont street, South Perth, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Wife Mrs Nelly Sexty |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 776 |
| Date of Enlistment | 5 Jan 1915 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit/Formation | 28th Battalion, C Company / 7th Brigade, 2nd Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 9 Jun 1915 - 30 Jun 1915 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A11 Ascanius |
| Date of Return | 18 Oct 1917 - 3 Dec 1917 |
| Ship Returned On | HMAT A72 Beltana |
| Fate | Returned to Australia (medical) |
| Medals |
Mentioned in Despatches 1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Reg married Nellie Davenport in 1914. Nellie died in 1965.
War Service
Original Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant of the 28th Battalion. Promoted 2nd Lieutenant on 1 Mar 1916, Lieutenant on 21 Aug 1916; then Captain on 12 Mar 1917. Served as the Transport Officer 1916-1917. With the rest of the 28th Battalion, Reg sailed for Egypt from Fremantle aboard HMAT A11 Ascanius on 9 Jun 1915, arriving at Port Tewfik, Egypt on 2 Jul 1915 and, after travelling in a convoy of four trains with other units, concentrated along with the rest of the 7th Brigade at Abbassia near Cairo, where they were assigned to the newly formed Australian 2nd Division
Reg embarked with the battalion on the HMT Ivernia from Alexandria for Gallipoli on 4 Sep 1915. On 10 Sep 1915 at Mudros they were transferred to the HMS Sarnia for the journey from Mudros harbour to Anzac Cove. Reg served the remainder of the campaign on Gallipoli before being evacuated wihthe Battalion aboard HMT Osmanieh, disembarking in Mudros harbour on 14 Dec 1915. They travelled back to Alexandria from Mudros on the HMT Ausonia, disembarking on 10 Jan 1916.
As the Battalion's Transport Officer, he proceeded with the battalion's advance party of 25 men and 5 horses on 15 Mar 1916 aboard HMT Minneapolis for France, entering via Marseilles on 19 Mar 1916. The 25th Battalion with whom they travelled was the first Australian Battalion to land on French soil.[1] The rest of the battalion travelled on HMAT A32 Themistocles, arriving on the afternoon of 21 Mar 1916.
Had a number of periods of serious health concern - Influenza, bronchitis, pleurisy and tubercle of lung. On 20 Dec 1916 he was sent to the 1st Anzac Rest Centre until 2 Jan 1917. On 20 Mar 1917 he presented to 5th Field Ambulance who sent him on to the 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station, then to the 47th Casualty Clearing Station before he returned to the unit on 9 Apr 1917. The third episode began on 27 May 1917 when he was referred to the 47th Casualty Clearing Station, who passed him to the 9th Casualty Clearing Station before he was placed on the Ambulance Train on 8 Jun 1917 and evacuated to England via HMHS St George from Rouen. In England he was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital on 12 Jun 1917 before transferring to Cobham Hall on 3 Aug 1917. The decision was made to return him to Australia with Tuberculosis, Laryngitis, and Bronchitis. His Appointment was terminated 19 Dec 1917.
Award Comment
Post War
Electoral Roll entries - 1919 , soldier at 88 Subiaco road, Subiaco with Nellie; 1925 - 1949 at "Hillside" Bunbury road, Armadale. Reg was a bank inspector. From 1954 -1958 Nellie was living at 'Yarraville', Forrest road, Armadale, while Reg was listed as a farmer in River road, Kelmscott. Yarraville was owned by Nellie's daughter Mercy and her husband Carl Rodgers which Carl had purchased in 1932 having moved from Victoria.
Son David John Sexty b.11 Oct 1919 served in 'D' Company of the 2/28th Battalion, with regimental No WX6358. David, a 21 year old Corporal was KIA on 3 Aug 1941 in an attack on the German held positions called Sugar 6 & Sugar 7 on the perimeter of the Tobruk garrison North Africa. He is buried in Grave 15.A.25 in the Knightsbridge War Cemetery Acroma 25 km west of Tobruk.
In 1963 Reg had retired to Flinders Bay.
Notes
Served on Armadale-Kelmscott Road Board from 1924 to 1932