Peter Constantine VASSY

Date of birth7 March 1878
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationCommercial traveller
Address36 Mantell Street, Moonee Ponds, Victoria
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation36
Height5' 10"
Weight162 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs V L Vassy, cr Moore and Chaucer Streets, Moonee Ponds, Victoria
Previous military serviceServed as Sergeant in the 35th Fortress Company Engineers, Citizen Military Forces.
Enlistment date21 September 1914
Rank on enlistmentLieutenant
Unit name300th Mechanical Transport, Army Service Corps (17th Divisional Ammunition Column (9th Army Service Corps)
AWM Embarkation Roll number25/99/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A40 Ceramic on 22 December 1914
Rank from Nominal RollLieutenant
Unit from Nominal RollAustralian Army Servic Corps Motor Transport
FateDrowned 13 October 1915
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsThe Lone Pine Memorial (Panel 68), Gallipoli, Turkey

The Lone Pine Memorial, situated in the Lone Pine Cemetery at Anzac, is the main Australian Memorial on Gallipoli, and one of four memorials to men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Designed by Sir John Burnet, the principal architect of the Gallipoli cemeteries, it is a thick tapering pylon 14.3 metres high on a square base 12.98 metres wide. It is constructed from limestone mined at Ilgardere in Turkey.

The Memorial commemorates the 3268 Australians and 456 New Zealanders who have no known grave and the 960 Australians and 252 New Zealanders who were buried at sea after evacuation through wounds or disease. The names of New Zealanders commemorated are inscribed on stone panels mounted on the south and north sides of the pylon, while those of the Australians are listed on a long wall of panels in front of the pylon and to either side. Names are arranged by unit and rank.

The Memorial stands over the centre of the Turkish trenches and tunnels which were the scene of heavy fighting during the August offensive. Most cemeteries on Gallipoli contain relatively few marked graves, and the majority of Australians killed on Gallipoli are commemorated here.

Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
181
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Embarked Alexandria to join the Medierranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 16 April 1915.

To hospital, suffering influenza, 10 October 1915.

Reported missing from HS 'Formosa' between 3.30 am and 5.30 am, 13 October 1915.

Now, 19 February 1916, reported drowned at sea, 13 October 1915.

Court of Enquiry, held on board HS 'Formosa' 13 October 1915: Lt H. WOOD-HILL, RAMC, Medical Officer on board HS 'Formosa': In the morning of the 12th instant the patient was cheerful and looking forward hopefully to his recovery and said he felt better. I saw him at 8 p.m. that evening and when first roused he seemed confused, but on talking to him he became quite clear and did not appear to be in any way despondent. I had no reason to consider the case one for constant supervision. This was the last time I saw the patient.'

Second witness, Sister N. WORBY, Night Sister: 'I came on duty on evening of 12th instant at 8.30 p.m. and saw the patient in company with the Day Sister a few minutes afterwards (about 8.45 p.m.). I spoke to him and he appeared confused at first but became quite clear and showed no signs of excitement. Lieut. Moore, New Zealand Engineers, was berthed in same cabin. I saw the patient practically every hour, the last time being at 3.30 a.m. He appeared to be a little restless on my visits but the last time I found him asleep in his berth. On visiting the cabin next at 10 minutes past 5, I found the patient missing and the berth empty. I searched for him personally and also sent round the night orderly to look for him. Being unable to find the patient I summoned the Medical Officer in charge. Lieut. Moore, his cabin companion, on being awakened, stated that he had not heard Lieut. Vassy leave the cabin.'

Red Cross File No 2810802L, statement, 2032 Pte W. SELLARS, 9th Company, Australian Army Service Corps (patient, Ras-el-Tin Convalescent Home, Alexandria, Egypt), 26 April 1916: 'Lieutenant Vassy was witness's officer. He fell sick about the latter end of September, and was put on board a French Hospital Boat at Anzac. Witness saw him being carried down to the beach to be put on board. About three weeks later the unit received news that he had walked overboard in a state of delerium. His brother, then a Cpl. and now a Lieutenant in the A.S.C. told witness these details.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, VASSY Peter Constantine
Red Cross File No 2810802L