Regimental number | 4617 |
Place of birth | Darlinghurst, New South Wales |
True Name | WAILES |
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Occupation | Seaman |
Address | Wollara Wollar via Mudgee, New South Wales |
Marital status | Single |
Age at embarkation | 18 |
Height | 5' 6.25" |
Weight | 112 lbs |
Next of kin | Aunt, Mrs S Doyle, Wollara Wollar via Mudgee, New South Wales |
Previous military service | Nil |
Enlistment date | |
Place of enlistment | Dubbo, New South Wales |
Rank on enlistment | Private |
Unit name | 13th Battalion, 14th Reinforcement |
AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/30/4 |
Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A70 Ballarat on |
Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
Unit from Nominal Roll | 54th Battalion |
Fate | Killed in Action |
Place of burial | Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery (Plot I, Row E, Grave No 2), France |
Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 160 |
Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Frederick Charles (d. 1 August 1918) and Jane WAILES |
Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Disembarked Egypt, 29 March 1916. Joined 54th Bn, Ferry Post, 1 April 1916. Found guilty, Moascar, 17 June 1916, of refusing to obey an order given by an N.C.O. 17/6/16: awarded 7 days' Field Punishment No 2.' Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, france, 29 June 1916. Found guilty, 7 July 1916, of leaving the ranks without permission: awarded 7 days' Field Punishment No 2. Reported missing, 19-20 July 1916. Now officially reported Prisoner of War in Germany; capt[ured] at Levanti, 20 July 1916. Now reported killed in action, 20 July 1916. Note on file: 'austr. Sold. 54. Batl. Nr. 4617. Wallis, J.P. am 19.7.16. in Gegend Fromelles gefallen.' Form B2090A: 'Killed in action (death report from Germany. Reported by German British Red Cross Death List 4.11.16.' Red Cross File No 2840802 has statement from 4318 R.H. KELLY, 54th Bn (former prisoner of war), 31 January 1919: 'Wallis was not his real name but was something like it. He told me in confidence but I forgot the name he told me. He was in the Navy before joining up, was very young about 19. I saw him killed instantly by shell at Fromelles? (sic) I was taken Prisoner of War next day.' Second statement, 4469 J. DAWSON (patient, Southall Hospital, England), 6 November 1916: 'I knew Wallis personally. He was in the charge at Fleurbaix on 19th., and was killed by shell. W. Walker of the same Battalion saw him killed on that date. I know Walker's statement to be correct.' 'This man's name appeared on German Death List dated 4-11-16.' Third statement, 4501 Pte W. GREEN, 54th Bn (patient, Tooting Military Hospital, London SW, England), 19 May 1917: 'I was on Wallis' left about 50 or 60 yards off in our 1st line trench when a shell dropped on the top of the parapet close to where he was standing and blew him to pieces. He was in Platoon X (the same as myself) 7th Section, and the same shell killed six othermen in that section. It happened at Fleurmelles just before we went over the top at about 5.30 p.m. on 19th July 1916. Wallis was aged about 17, fair and about 5' 10".' 'Identity disc received from Germany and despatched to N/K. 20.6.17.' Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal Originally listed as 'No Known Grave' and commemorated at V.C. Corner (Panel No 11), Australian Cemetery, Fromelles; subsequently (2010) identified, and interred in the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery, France. |
Sources | NAA: B2455, WALLIS Joseph Patrick
Red Cross file 2840802 |