The AIF Project

Arthur Gould TOWNSEND

Regimental number2514
Place of birthDoncaster, Victoria
ReligionBaptist
OccupationOrchardist
Addressc/o Blood Bros, Ringwood, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation18
Height5' 7"
Weight137 lbs
Next of kinFather, John Townsend, 92 Barkly Street, Carlton, Victoria
Previous military serviceServed in the Senior Cadets, Area 48B, 1912; lived in exempt area under the Compulsory Military Training scheme, 1914-15.
Enlistment date27 May 1916
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll10 June 1916
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name58th Battalion, 5th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/75/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A9 Shropshire on 25 September 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll58th Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 2 January 1919
Discharge date25 March 1919
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Melbourne, 25 September 1916; disembarked Plymouth, England, 11 November 1916; marched in to 15th Training Bn, Hurdcott, 21 November 1916.

Admitted to Military Hospital, Fovant, 13 December 1916 (not yet diagnosed); discharged from hospital, 21 December 1916 (influenza).

Found guilty, Hurdcott, 5 May 1917, of absenting himself from Fire Piquet: forfeited 4 days' pay.

Found guilty, 21 May 1917, of neglecting to obey order re 'out of bounds': forfeited 2 days' pay.

Admitted to Fovant Hospital, 11 July 1917; discharge date not recorded.

Proceeded overseas to France, 29 August 1917; taken on strength, 58th Bn, in the field, 8 September 1917.

Admitted to 6th Australian Field Ambulance, 25 September 1917 (not yet diagnosed), and transferred to 17th Casualty Clearing Station; to 15th Casualty Clearing Station, 27 September 1917 (casualty now classified as 'wounded in action: shell shock'); to 26th General Hospital, Etaples, 29 September 1917; to 6th Convalescent Depot, Etaples, 6 November 1917; to 5th Convalescent Depot, Cayeux, 19 November 1917; rejoined Bn, in the field, 5 January 1918.

Admitted to 8th Field Ambulance, 15 January 1918 (bronchitis), and transferred to 5th Divisional Rest Station; rejoined Bn, 24 January 1918.

Wounded in action (second occasion), 28 April 1918 (gun shot wound, right shoulder), admitted to 14th Australian Field Ambulance, and transferred same day to 20th Casualty Clearing Station; to Ambulance Train No 37, 28 April 1918, and admitted to 7th Canadian General Hospital, Etaples, 30 April 1918; transferred to 74th General Hospital, Trouville, 1 May 1918; to 1st Australian General Hospital, Havre, 10 May 1918; to Base Depot, 1 June 1918; rejoined Bn, 10 June 1918.

Wounded in action (third occasion), 4 July 1918 (gun shot wound, right forearm, left shoulder), admitted to 15th Australian Field Ambulance, and transferred same day to 20th Casualty Clearing Station; to 6th General Hospital, Rouen, 5 July 1918; to England, 8 July 1918, and admitted to Military Hospital, Boscombe (affiliated with Alexandra Hospital, Cosham), 9 July 1918; transferred to 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, 27 July 1918; discharged to No 3 Command Depot, Hurdcott, 30 July 1918.

Found guilty, Hurdcott, 12 august 1918, of neglect ing to obey Routine Order No 719 re Bounds: forfeited 2 days' pay.

Found guilty, Hurdcott, 27 august 1918, of neglect ing to obey Routine Order No 719 re Bounds: awarded 4 days' Field Punishment No 2.

Marched out to No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 10 September 1918.

Marched out to No 1 Command Depot, Sutton Veny, 9 October 1918.

Found guilty, 10 October 1918, of being absent without leave from 1500, 8 October, till 1400, 9 October 1918: awarded 1 day's confined to camp and forfeiture of 1 day's pay.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Karmala', 2 January 1919; disembarked Melbourne, 15 February 1919; discharged (medically unfit: wounded), Melbourne, 25 March 1919.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, TOWNSEND Arthur Gould

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