The AIF Project

Joseph Smethurst FENTON

Regimental number1112
Place of birthChadderton, Oldham, Lancashire, England
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationEngineer
Marital statusWidower
Age at embarkation38
Height5' 9.25"
Weight168 lbs
Next of kinSon, Victor J S Fenton, Batstones Point, Shepstone, Natal, South Africa
Previous military serviceServed in Matabeleland, South Africa, 1896-1907.
Enlistment date28 October 1914
Place of enlistmentAlbany, Western Australia
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name8th Battalion, D Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/25/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board Transport A24 Benalla on 19 October 1914
Rank from Nominal RollCorporal
Unit from Nominal Roll8th Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 4 May 1917
Discharge date10 July 1917
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 5 April 1915.

Admitted to 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station, Gallipoli, 20 June 1915 (defective vision), and transferred to HMS 'Clacton', 20 June 1915 (dimness of vision); to 15th Stationary Hospital, Mudros, 21 June 1915; rejoined Bn, Gallipoli, 30 June 1915.

Admitted to 2nd Stationary Hospital, Mudros, 17 October 1915; rejoined Bn, 5 November1915.

Disembarked Alexandria, 7 January 1916 (general Gallipoli evacuation).

Appointed Lance Corporal, 17 February 1916.

Appointed Temporary Corporal, 26 February 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 26 March 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 31 March 1916.

Promoted Corporal, 9 April 1916.

Admitted to 74th Field Ambulance, 29 June 1916 (bronchitis); transferred to 72nd Field Ambulance, 27 June 1916; to Divisional Rest Station, 29 June 1916; discharged to duty, 5 July 1916.

Admitted to No 1 New Zealand Field Ambulance, 18 July 1916 (rheumatism); transferred to 18th General Hospital (date not recorded); to No 6 Convalescent Hospital, 26 July 1916; to Base Depot, Etaples, 4 August 1916.

Appointed Acting Sergeant (with pay), 1 September 1916.

Admitted to 26th General Hospital, 2 September 1916 (myalgia), and reverted to Corporal; transferred to England, 7 September 1916, and admitted to Military Hospital, Chatham; discharged on furlough, 20 October 1916, to report to No 1 Command Depot, Perham Downs, 4 November 1916.

Found guilty, Perham Downs, 8 November 1916, of being absent without leave from 3.30 pm, 4 November, till 12.15 pm, 7 November 1916: reprimanded, and forfeited 4 days' pay under Royal Warrant.

Marched out to No 4 Command Depot, Wareham, 13 November 1916.

Admitted to Wareham Isolation Hospital, 23 January 1917 (mumps); marched in to No 4 Command Depot from hospital, 14 February 1917.

Marched out to No 3 Command Depot, Hurdcott, 29 March 1917.

Marched in to No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 11 April 1917.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Miltiades', 4 May 1917; medical report, 8th Australian General Hospital, Fremantle, noted 'Overage 46 years'; discharged (medically unfit: chronic rheumatism), Perth, 10 July 1917.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, FENTON Joseph Smethurst

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