Roscoe Conkling FREE

Regimental number356
Place of birthLa Grange, Indiana, USA
ReligionBaptist
OccupationJournalist
Address415 Emmett Street, Battle Creek, Michigan, USA
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation35
Height5' 11"
Weight140 lbs
Next of kinFather, Daniel D Free, 415 Emmett Street, Battle Creek, Michigan, USA
Previous military serviceServed for 6 years in the US Cavalry; discharged 1909.
Enlistment date4 December 1914
Place of enlistmentGuildford, Western Australia
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name10th Light Horse Regiment, B Squadron
AWM Embarkation Roll number10/15/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia, on board HMAT A47 Mashobra on 17 February 1915
Rank from Nominal RollSergeant
Unit from Nominal Roll10th Light Horse Regiment
FateDischarged 25 March 1919
Discharge date25 March 1919
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Palestine

Embarked from Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 16 May 1915. Diagnosed arthritis in knee, Gaba Tepe, 25 June 1915; admitted to No 1 Australian Stationary Hospital, Lemnos, 25 June 1915 (synovitis); returned to duty, Gallipoli, 4 July 1915.

Appointed Lance Corporal, 19 August 1915.

Admitted to HS 'Ionian', Gallipoli, 29 August 1915 (dysentery); transferred to Malta, and admitted to Military Hospital, Imlarfa,1 September 1915; to Ghain Tuffector, 29 September 1915; embarked for Mudros, 15 November 1915; disembarked Alexandria, 12 December 1915; rejoined unit, Heliopolis, 26 December 1915.

Promoted Sergeant, 22 January 1916.

Admitted to 54th Casualty Clearing Station, Serapeum, 14 June 1916 (pleurisy); rejoined unit and returned to duty, 22 June 1916.

Admitted to 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance, Serapeum, 5 July 1916 (bronchitis/pleurisy); discharged to duty, 9 July 1916. Reprimanded, 17 August 1916, for neglect of duty.

Admitted to 14th Australian General Hospital, Abbassia, 18 November 1916 (insomnia); discharged to 3rd Light Horse Training Regiment, Moascar, 4 December 1916.

Admitted to hospital en route to join 10th Light Horse Regiment, 21 December 1916; transferred to 26th Casualty Clearing Station, 24 December 1916 (scabies, slight); transferred same day to 24th Stationary Hospital; to 31st General Hospital, Port Said, 1 January 1917; discharged to duty, 9 January 1917.

Admitted to 26th Stationary Hospital, Moascar, 29 January 1917 (neurasthenia); transferred to 14th Australian General Hospital, Abbassia, 29 January 1917; discharged and returned to duty, 3 March 1917.

Marched out to Port Said Rest Camp, 2 September 1917. Admitted to 1st General Hospital, Port Said, 4 September 1917 (neurasthenia); transferred to 15th General Hospital, Alexandria, 11 September 1917; to British Red Cross Convalescent Depot, Montazah, 14 September 1917; discharged to 3rd Light Horse Training Regiment, Moascar, 4 October 1917. Transferred to 10th Light Horse Regiment, 6 December 1917.

Appointed Temporary Squadron Sergeant Major, 28 February 1918.

Admitted to 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance, 23 May 1918 (myalgia, injury to knee: injured on 12 May: moderate contusion on left knee; kicked by a horse while inspecting Squadron Lines: no one to blame; injury sustained in performance of duty); transferred to 76th Casualty Clearing Station, 25 August 1917; to 24th Stationary Hospital, 27 May 1917; to 36th Stationary Hospital, Gaza, 25 May 1918; to 14th Australian General Hospital, Port Said, 28 May 1918. Admitted to 14th Australian General Hospital, Port Said, 3 June 1918 (traumatic myalgia); transferred same day to Port Said Rest Camp; marched out to 3rd Light Horse Training Regiment, Moascar, 12 June 1918; transferred to 10th Light Horse Regiment, 18 July 1918.

Sick to hospital, Jerusalem, 22 July 1918; transferred to 34th Casualty Clearing Station, 23 July 1918 (debility); to 24th Stationary Hospital, 24 July 1918; to 31st General Hospital, Abbassia, 25 July 1918; to 14th Australian General Hospital, Port Said, 9 August 1918 (neurasthenia); discharged to Cairo for sick leave, 26 August 1918, and granted 10 days' leave. While on leave admitted to 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital, Moascar, 5 September 1918 (bronchitis); transferred to 14th Australian General Hospital, Port Said, 12 September 1918 (neurasthenia and bronchitis); to Port Said Rest Camp, 16 October 1918.

Admitted to 14th Australian General Hospital, 26 October1918 (puncture wound, right arm); Court of Enquiry found 'that SSM Free was not on duty and that the injuries were self inflicted ? That injuries are not of a serious nature (2) Not likely to cause permanent ill effects (3) That this [is] a Mental Case. No disciplinary action can be taken.' Transferred to 14th Australian General Hospital, 5 November 1918; to Military Hospital, Cairo, 6 November 1918 (mental: diagnosed suicidal); embarked Alexandria for England on board 'Neuralia', 24 December 1918; admitted to Royal Victorian Hospital, Netley, 3 January 1919 (mental case); transferred to Lord Derby War Hospital, Warrington, 7 January 1919; discharged on furlough, 8 March 1919, to report to No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 22 March 1919.

Discharged from the AIF in England, 25 March 1919 (medically unfit).

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, FREE Roscoe Conkling