Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Claude George Kingsley of Barnard Street, Bendigo enlisted on August 18th, 1914, aged 19 years and 8 months. Claude was wounded by a bullet in his left hand the day after the Galliopli landings, but continued his service despite receiving more injuries during his tour of duty, finally returning, medically unfit, to Australia on November 20th, 1918.

Concerning Gallipoli, Claude wrote in a diary entry, ‘ I was only there for 48 hours, but I saw enough to last me 100 years. You can never thank the lads enough, and no-one can describe what being under fire is like. It is too awful’.

Source: St John’s Presbyterian Church, Bendigo, Vic

Claude George Kingsley was born in Bendigo, the son of George Kingsley, Manager of the Central Red White and Blue Mine.   His mother was deceased.    The family lived at 364 Barnard St, Bendigo.    Claude was the eldest son in the family.   He was educated at the Violet Street State School and the School of Mines, and was employed as a Blacksmith at the Central Red White and Blue Mine.   

He was among the first men to enlist in Bendigo, enlisting on the first official date of 18th August, 1914.    On the same night he was entertained by members of the Students’ Club, Bendigo School of Mines.   Aged 19 years and 8 months, he was 5’ 4” tall with a ruddy complexion, brown eyes and red hair.   He arrived at the Broadmeadows Camp on 19.8.14 and was appointed to the 7th Battalion with Service No. 799.    He embarked for overseas on 19.10.14.          

The battalion disembarked in Egypt and spent the next few months in training.  Claude George Kingsley participated in the Landing at Anzac Cove on 25th April, 1915.    He was wounded during the following day, sustaining a Gun Shot Wound to his left hand.   In a letter to his father he wrote that a bullet had entered the top of his wrist coming out near his little finger. 

In a later letter, he wrote: “I was only there 48 hours, but I saw enough to last me 100 years.  You can never thank the lads enough, and no one can describe what being under fire is like.  It is too awful.”      [Bendigonian. Sept 16, 1915]

He was admitted to hospital and later transferred to England.     Discharged from hospital he was appointed to the office of the Defence Department, London.  (18.1.16)       He was promoted to the rank of Corporal on 1.5.16 and joined the Australian Postal Corps in London on 25.5.16.    He arrived at the Infantry Drafting Depot on 22.2.17 and was appointed Acting Sergeant.    Reverting to the rank of Corporal, he embarked for France on 21.6.17, re-joining the 7th Battalion on 14.7.17.

Claude George Kingsley was Wounded for the 2nd occasion on 21.9.17, during the Battle at Menin Road in Belgium.    He sustained a Gun Shot Wound to his right shoulder and was sent to hospital in England.   He re-joined the battalion in France on 9.1.18.    During May, 1918, he was admitted to hospital suffering from Pyrexia of Unknown Origin.  (i.e. Fever)   He was promoted to the rank of Temporary Sergeant on 25.6.18.

On 1.7.18 the 7th Battalion was in the front line at Moolenacker when Claude George Kingsley was Wounded in Action for the 3rd occasion, sustaining a Gun Shot Wound to his right forearm.    He was admitted to hospital, where the wound was described as severe.    Assessed as Medically Unfit, he embarked for Australia on 20.11.18.

“The Men Listed on the Roll of Honour, St John’s Presbyterian Church, Bendigo”: Larna Malone

Prior to Embarkation Claude George Kingsley was Entertained by members of the Students’ Club, Bendigo School of Mines.    In addition, the Bendigo Advertiser had published the information that prominent sportsmen were providing the English troops with field glasses, for use on ‘outpost duty’.   In response to this information Mr. H. Siddall donated a pair of field glasses for the use of Private Kingsley.   

“The First Lot.   7th Battalion.   The first men of the Bendigo district to volunteer for service in the First World War.”: Larna Malone