The AIF Project

Walter COLEMAN

Regimental number5057
Place of birthBendigo, Victoria
ReligionMethodist
OccupationBlacksmith
AddressTandara, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation25
Height5' 9.5"
Weight132 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs. M. Coleman, Tandara, Victoria
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date29 January 1916
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll22 January 1916
Place of enlistmentBendigo, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name7th Battalion, 16th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/24/4
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A23 Suffolk on 1 April 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll15th Light Trench Mortar Battery
FateReturned to Australia 25 January 1919
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Plaque in Victorian Garden of Remembrance
Discharge date12 June 1919
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Disembarked Suez, 12 May 1916.

Embarked Alexandria, 29 May 1916; disembarked Plymouth, England, 8 June 1916.

Proceeded overseas to France, 15 September 1916; taken on strength, 60th Bn, in the field, 9 October 1916.

Admitted to No 1 New Zealand Stationary Hospital, Amiens, 15 November 1916 (indigestion), and transferred by Ambulance Train to 10th General Hospital, Rouen, 16 November 1916; transferred to Base Depot, Etaples, 17 November 1916; rejoined Bn, in the field, 7 February 1917.

Attached to 15th Australian Light Trench Mortar Battery for training, 22 February 1917.

Admitted to 5th Divisional Rest Station, 12 April 1917 (septic traumatic abrasions); transferred to 56th Casualty Clearing Station, 21 April 1917; discharged to duty, 25 April 1917.

Transferred to 15th Australian Light Trench Mortar Battery, 20 September 1917.

On leave to England, 11 November 1917; rejoined unit from leave, 29 November 1917.

Admitted to 15th Australian Field Ambulance (influenza), and transferred same day to 5th Divisional Rest Station, 17 January 1918; to 3rd Canadian General Hospital, Boulogne, 22 January 1918 (trench fever); to England, 29 January 1918, and admitted to Queen Mary Hospital, Whalley (trench fever, slight); transferred to 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, 29 January 1918; discharged to No 3 Command Depot, Hurdcott, 14 February 1918.

Declared illegal absentee, 7 March 1918.

Tried by District Court Martial, Fovant, 30 April 1918, on charge of being absent without leave from midnight, 7 March 1918, till surrenderingat London, 20 April 1918; pleaded Guilty; found Guilty: awarded 122 days' detention; Court recommended mercy on grounds of service in France; 80 days of sentence remitted, 4 May 1918; total forfeiture: 95 days' pay.

Admitted to Gosport Detention Barracks, 12 May 1918.

Marched out to No 1 command Depot, 6 July 1918.

Tried by District Court Martial, Sutton Veny, 19 November 1918, on charge of being absent without leave from 2359, 22 October, till reporting at No 1 Command Depot at 0830, 9 November 1918; pleaded Guilty; found Guilty: awarded 40 days' Field Punishment No 2.

Marched out to Overseas Training Brigade, 30 November 1918.

Found guilty, 3 January 1919, of being absent without leave, Sandhill, 0100, 1 January, to 0900, 3 January 1919: awarded forfeiture of 6 days' pay; total forfeiture: 8 days' pay.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Ceramic', 25 January 1919; disembarked Melbourne, 23 March 1919; discharged, Melbourne, 12 June 1919.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

Death attributed to war service.
Date of death20 September 1944
SourcesNAA B2455 files 3269310 and 7528278

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