Richard Charles Vandyke TEMPLE

Regimental number2594
Date of birth3 April 1895
Place of birthEast Adelaide, South Australia
SchoolSt Peter's College, Adelaide, South Australia
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationBank Clerk
AddressBroken Hill, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation21
Height5' 5.5"
Weight135 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Mary Temple, 371 Angas Street East, Adelaide, South Australia
Previous military serviceServed for 3 years in the 23rd Australian Light Horse Regiment, Citizen Military Forces.
Enlistment date20 January 1916
Place of enlistmentAdelaide, South Australia
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name9th Light Horse Regiment, 21st Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number10/14/5
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board RMS Mooltan on 24 August 1916
Regimental number from Nominal Roll2594A
Rank from Nominal RollSapper
Unit from Nominal Roll9th Light Horse Regiment
Other details from Roll of Honour CircularJoined the Bank of New South Wales, Adelaide, 7 October 1911; transferred to Broken Hill branch, October 1913.
FateReturned to Australia 22 January 1917
Discharge date27 August 1917
Other details

War service: Egypt

Taken on strength, 3rd Light Horse Training Regiment, 6 November 1916.

Dived into shallow water, Lake Minshar, Moascar, 18 November 1916, when taking a parade of men to the lake to bathe; pulled from the water conscious, having lost the use of arms and legs.

Reverted to rank of Trooper, 18 November 1916.

Admitted to 26th Stationary Hospital, Ismailia, 18 November 1916 (concussion of spine), and listed as 'dangerously ill'.

Transferred to 14th Australian General Hospital, Abbassia, 23 November 1916.

Letter 'A' attached to regimental number owing to a duplication of No. 2594 with that of Trooper Robert L. TEMPLE, 8 January 1917.

Commenced return to Australia from Suez on board HT 'Euripides', 22 January 1917, for discharge (displacement of 4th dorsal vertebra and paraplegia; still listed as 'dangerously ill'); discharged, Adelaide (medically unfit), 27 August 1917.

Total war service: 1 year 220 days (of which 182 days were abroad)

Medal: British War Medal
Date of death7 April 1918
Age at death23
Place of burialNorth Road Church of England Cemetery, Adelaide, South Australia
SourcesNAA: B2455, TEMPLE Richard Charles Vandyke
'Bank of New South Wales Roll of Honour' (Sydney, 1921), p. 383