Walter Reginald WAANDERS

Regimental number2478
Place of birthGlanville, South Australia
SchoolPublic School, South Australia
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationLabourer
AddressAdelaide, South Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation21
Height5' 6"
Weight126 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Sara Ann Waanders, Exmouth Street, Exeter, South Australia
Previous military serviceServed for 3 years in the 77th Bn, Citizen Military Forces; still serving at time of AIF enlistment.
Enlistment date11 December 1915
Place of enlistmentAdelaide, South Australia
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name32nd Battalion, 4th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/49/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board RMS Mongolia on 9 March 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll48th Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 31 March 1919
Age at death24
Place of burialCheltenham Cemetery, Adelaide, South Australia
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
147
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Photo: Peter Dennis
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Transferred to and taken on strength of 48th Bn, 19 April 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 2 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 9 June 1916.

Wounded in action, 6 August 1916; remained at duty.

Admitted to 7th General Hospital, St Omer, 3 October 1916 (mumps); discharged to duty, 20 October 1916; rejoined unit, 21 October 1916.

Admitted to 4th Australian Field Ambulance, 4 April 1917, and transferred to 56th Casualty Clearing Station (ulcer, face); to Ambulance Train, 8 April 1917, and admitted to 10th General Hospital, Rouen, 9 April 1917; transferred to England, 17 April 1917, and admitted to 1st Southern General Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham (rodent ulcer, face); transferred to 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, 24 September 1917; discharged on furlough, 3 October 1917, to report to No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 17 October 1917.

Admitted to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital, Bulford, 29 October 1917; discharged, 19 November 1917; total period of treatment for venereal disease: 22 days.

Found guilty, 22 November 1917, of being absent without leave from 6 pm, 17 October, until surrendering himself to the Military Field Police about 1230 am, 24 October 1917: incustody 28 days awaiting trial; awarded 21 days' Field Punishment No 2, and forfeited 57 days' pay.

Admitted to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital, Bulford, 4 December 1917; discharged, 1 April 1918; total period of treatment for venereal disease: 119 days.

Marched in to No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 1 April 1918.

Found guilty, 21 May 1918, of neglecting to obey AIF Order 2256: awarded 7 days' confined to barracks.

Found guilty, 28 May 1918, of being absent from Guard Mounting ('duty fell upon another soldier'): awarded 7 days' confined to barracks.

Found guilty, 4 June 1918, of (1) neglect of Depot Order 2256, viz. in Weymouth without a pass; (2) escaping from custody in that he when under arrest broke away from LCpl McGill; (3) breaking Camp while under confined to barracks order: awarded 21 days' Field Punishment No 2.

Admitted to No 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, 18 June 1918 (rodent ulcer); discharged to No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 2 July 1918.

Admitted to 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, 24 August 1918 (ulcer on jaw); marched in to No 2 command Depot, Weymouth, 16 September 1918.

Transferred to 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, 23 January 1919; listed as 'dangerously ill (epithelioma paroted)', 10 February 1919.

Commenced return to Australia from Southampton on board HT 'Wandilla', 31 May 1919; medical report, HT 'Wandilla': 'Steadily going downhill. Growth spreading'; disembarked Adelaide and admitted to 7th Australian General Hospital, Keswick, 16 May 1919; died (epitheliona of neck), 7th Australian General Hospital, Keswick, Adelaide, 20 May 1919, died before discharge.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death20 May 1919
SourcesNAA: B2455, WAANDERS Walter Reginald