Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

After his discharge from the Citizens Forces, Henry went on to work as a tram conductor.

From How We Served

2273 Private Henry Rice Gardener had immigrated to Australia from London just prior to the outbreak of hostilities and was employed as a caretaker at the time of his enlistment in Adelaide, South Australia on the 27th of November 1914.

Prior to leaving England for Australia Henry had already served a total of 12 years in the British Army, which included service with the Royal Army Medical Corps during the Boer War and had been a member of the Saint John’s Ambulance Brigade. On his enlistment, at the age of 39, Henry was allocated to reinforcements for the 1st Australian Stationary Hospital 1st AIF and was shipped to Egypt for further training on the 20th of March 1915, and after this he was taken on strength with his Unit.

By the 27th of May Henry was admitted into hospital at Zeitoun where it was discovered that he was suffering from tuberculosis of both lungs, and that this had developed before he immigrated to Australia. Henry had attempted to re-join the British Army for a second engagement during 1911 but was knocked back as this TB was discovered when he underwent a medical so as to re-enlist in England. Hence Henry’s immigration to Australia so to avoid his history of ill health being detected.

It was established in Egypt that Henry was an invalid who was not fit for active service and subsequently he was embarked for his return to Australia on the 5th of July and was admitted into the 7th Australian General Hospital (Keswick). Henry received his official discharge from the 1st AIF on the 29th of November 1915. Re-entering civilian life, Henry’s health further declined and his premature death occurred on the 5th of July 1926 at the age of 47.

Following his death Henry was formally interred within West Terrace Cemetery, South Australia.