The AIF Project

Edwin SPEAK

Regimental number442A
Date of birth18 June 1885
Place of birthHatton, Derbyshire,
Place of birthDerby, England
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationFire brigade
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation29
Height5' 7"
Weight154 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs G Speak, 61 Carlisle Street, Leichhardt, New South Wales
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date25 September 1914
Place of enlistmentRosehill, New South
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name13th Battalion, D Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/30/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board Transport A38 Ulysses on 22 December 1914
Regimental number from Nominal Roll442
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll13th Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 8 October 1918
Discharge date3 February 1919
Family/military connectionsBrother: Lt Laurence John SPEAK, 5th Division Artillery, returned to Australia, 18 January 1919.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Admitted to 25th Casualty Clearing Station, Mudros, 15 August 1915 (enteric); embarked for England on board Hospital Ship 'Ascania', 19 August 1915; admitted to St Patrick's Hospital, Malta (dysentery), 25 Auyust 1915. Transferred to Hospital Ship 'Oxfordshire', Malta, for movement to England. Admitted to King George's Hospital, Stamford Street, London (severely sick), 24 September 1915; transferred to Abbeg Wood Depot, 20 November 1915.

Detached for duty with Headquarters, AIF Depots in the United Kinydom, 11 September 1916. Transferred to Army Service Corps Details, Parkhouse, 26 January 1917. Proceeded overseas to France from Australian Army Service Corps Training Depot, 5 September 1917. Marched out to 1 Divisional Train, 22 October 1917; taken on strength, 1 Divisional Train, Belgium, 29 October 1917. Detached to Headquarters, 2nd Australian Infantry Brigade, 4 April 1918; rejoined unit from detachment, 22 April 1918. Transferred to No. 1 Company, AASC, 26 May 1918.

Commenced return to Australia on board 'Port Sydney', 8 October 1918; disembarked Australia, 2 December 1918; discharged (termination of period of enlistment), Sydney, 3 February 1919.

Total war service: 4 years 135 days (of which 3 years 349 days were abroad).

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death14 February 1934
Age at death49
Place of burialRookwood Necropolis (Methodist Section), Sydney, New South Wales
SourcesNAA: B2455, SPEAK Edwin

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