The AIF Project

Walter Robert ARGENT

Regimental number3107
Place of birthLondon, England
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationLabourer
AddressGeelong, Victoria
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation30
Height5' 5"
Weight122 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs Florence Argent, 49 Mercer Street, Geelong, Victoria
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date12 September 1916
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name59th Battalion, 8th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/76/4
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A7 Medic on 16 December 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll59th Battalion
Other details from Roll of Honour CircularDied of illness. Enlisted 12 September 1916. Joined 59th Bn on 26 October 1917.
FateDied of disease 10 October 1918
Place of death or woundingNot stated
Age at death32
Place of burialVillers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery (Plot XIV, Row AA, Grave No. 10), Fouilloy, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
166
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Melbourne, 16 December 1916; disembarked Plymouth, England, 18 February 1917, and marched into 15th Training Bn, Hurdcott, the same day.

Admitted to Parkhouse Hospital, 28 March 1917 (mumps); discharged to depot, 15 April 1917.

Found guilty, 1 May 1917, of being absent without leave from 2400 hours, 26 April 1917, until 1400 hours, 29 April 1917: award, forfeits 9 days' pay, and total forfeiture of 12 days pay.

Proceeded overseas to France, 17 October 1917; marched into 5th Australian Divisional Base Depot, Le Havre, 18 October 1917.

Proceeded to unit, 21 October 1917; taken on strength of 59th Bn, in the field, 26 October 1917.

Found guilty, of while of active service, absenting himself at 1400 hours, 14 June 1918, and remained absent until apprehended by Military Police, Doullens, 17 June 1918: awarded 8 days' Field Punishment No 2, forfeits 4 days' pay by Royal Warrant, and total forfeiture of 12 days, pay.

Tried by Field General Court Martial, 24 July 1918, on a charge of while on active service, deserting His Majesty's Service in that he in the field at 2100 hours, 6 July 1918, after he had been warned for duty in the line, absented himself without leave with intent of avoiding duty in the line, and remained absent until apprehended by the Military Police at 1500 hours, Vigwacaun, 12 July 1918; found guilty: sentenced to 5 years' Penal Servitude; sentenced confirmed by General Officer Commanding, 5th Australian Division, but sentence commuted to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour.

Marched out to Anzac Corps Field Punishment Compound, 31 July 1918.

Sentence suspended, 15 September 1918; rejoined unit, 26 September 1918.

Evacuated to hospital, 5 October 1918; to No 41 Stationary Hospital, 6 October 1918.

Died, 10 October 1918 (broncho pneumonia).

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, ARGENT Walter Robert

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