| Regimental number | 5097 |
| Place of birth | Skipton, Victoria |
| School | Skipton State School, Victoria |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Labourer |
| Address | Skipton, Victoria |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 18 |
| Height | 5' 6.25" |
| Weight | 126 lbs |
| Next of kin | Mother, Mrs F Grist, Post Office, Skipton, Victoria |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 8th Battalion, 16th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/25/5 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A23 Suffolk on |
| Regimental number from Nominal Roll | 5097A |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 14th Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | nr Cerisy, Somme sector, France |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 19 |
| Place of burial | Heath Cemetery (Plot Iv, Row H, Grave o. 16), Harbonnieres, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 72 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: John and Frances GRIST, Skipton, Victoria |
| Family/military connections | Cousin: 3057 Pte Charles GRIST, 8th Light Horse Regiment, returned to Australia, 12 July 1918. |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Embarked Melbourne, 1 April 1916; disembarked Suez, 14 May 1916. Embarked Alexandria, 29 May 1916; disembarked Plymouth, England, 8 June 1916. Proceeded overseas to France, 8 October ; taken on strength, 14th Bn, in the field, 22 October 1916, and reallotted No 5097A. Admitted to 13th Field Ambulance, 5 August 1917 (influenza); transferred to 4th Divisional Rest Station, 10 August 1917; discharged to duty, 13 August 1917, and rejoined unit same day. Tried on charge of desertion (absent without leave, 13-17 August 1917) by Field General Court Martial, 13 September 1917; pleaded 'Not Guilty'; found 'Guilty', and sentenced to death; sentence commuted to 10 years' imprisonment with hard labour. Admitted to No 1 Military Prison, Havre, 28 October 1917. Sentence commuted to 2 years' imprisonment with hard labour, 7 November 1917. Released from prison, 18 May 1918, remainder of sentence suspended, and entrained to rejoin Bn, 18 May 1918; rejoined Bn, in the field, 23 May 1918. Reported wounded in action, 8 August 1918; now, 14 August 1918, reported killed in action, 8 August 1918. Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
