Herbert Edgar RICH

Regimental number1412
Place of birthBurwood, New South Wales
ReligionBaptist
OccupationHorse driver
AddressNorsham, Nicholson Street, Strathfield, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation21
Height5' 4"
Weight126 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs. E. Rich, Horsham, Nicholson Street, Strathfield, New South Wales
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date18 November 1914
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll28 November 1914
Place of enlistmentLiverpool, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name2nd Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A48 Seang Bee on 11 February 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll2nd Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 27 July 1917
Date of death8 November 1920
Age at death from cemetery records27
Place of burialRookwood Necropolis (Plot H, Grave No. 1188), Sydney
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
34
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: George and Edith RICH. Native of Burwood, New South Wales. Plaque in Garden of Remembrance, NSW.
Discharge date30 October 1917
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Taken on strength of 2nd Bn, Gallipoli, 15 May 1915.

Admitted to Hospital Ship, 4 August 1915 (inflamed knee); disembarked Alexandria, 10 August 1915, and transferred to No 1 Australian General Hospital, Cairo, the same day (septic knee); to Australian and New Zealand Convalescent Hospital, Helouan, 15 August 1915; discharged to 5th Training Bn, 19 August 1915.

Entrained for duty, 22 August 1915; rejoined 2nd Bn, Gallipoli, 28 August 1915.

Found guilty, 13 November 1915, of not complying with an order: awarded 7 days' extra fatigues.

Disembarked Alexandria, 28 December 1915.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 22 March 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 28 March 1916.

On Command at Divisional Bombing School, 5 June 1916; rejoined unit, 12 June 1916.

Wounded in action, 23 July 1916; admitted to No 2 Australian Field Ambulance, 23 July 1916 (gunshot wound, left leg); transferred to No 44 Casualty Clearing Station, 23 July 1916; to No 27 Ambulance Train, 24 July 1916; to No 26 General Hospital, Etaples, 24 July 1916; to Convalescent Depot, 8 August 1916; marched into 1st Australian Divisional Base Depot, Etaples, 10 August 1916.

Rejoined 2nd Bn, 2 September 1916.

On leave to United Kingdom, 5 October 1916.

Wounded in action (2nd occasion), 29 December 1916; admitted to No 1 Australian Dressing Station, 29 December 1916 (shrapnel wound, left shoulder); transferred to Casualty Clearing Station, no date stated; to No 1 Australian General Hospital, Rouen, 1 January 1917; to England, 1 March 1917; to No 5 Southern General Hospital, Plymouth, 2 March 1917 (compound fracture of shoulder, severe); discharged to furlough, 22 June 1917; marched into No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 9 July 1917.

Found guilty, 11 July 1917, of overstaying leave from 1800 hours, 6 July 1917, until 0600 hours, 9 July 1917: awarded 4 days' confined to barracks and forfeits 4 days' pay by Royal Warrant.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Demosthenes', 28 July 1917; disembarked Sydney, 29 September 1917; discharged (medically unfit), Sydney, 30 October 1917.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, RICH Herbert Edgar