Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Henry Edward CALWELL was born on 16th January 1890 in Yarra Glen, Victoria, to parents Daniel and Annie (nee CORRIE) CALWELL.  His father died some time after his birth.  Annie CALWELL married Moses Walter BETTERIDGE in 1907.

A single, 27 year old masseur at the time, Henry enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in Melbourne, on 21st November 1917.  He was enlisted with the rank of Staff Sergeant, regimental number 19862, and was appointed to duty as a masseur in the recently raised Army Massage Reserve, Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC), from the outset.  This position performed a physiotherapy service for wounded soldiers, modelled upon that being done by the British "Almeric Paget Military Massage Corps".  Staff (both male and female) were specifically recruited for the role following an advertising campaign, and those not already qualified were put through a condensed twelve months training regime (reduced from the usual two years), after agreement by both the Australian Massage Association, and the Victorian Massage Association.

Following a 6 weeks training term at the No. 5 Australian General Hospital (5th AGH) in St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, Henry attended Seymour Camp, from 10th January until 29th April 1918.  He then returned to the 5th AGH, where he was posted for the next 4 and a half months, working with returned wounded soldiers during their convalescence.  On 14th September 1918, Henry embarked in Melbourne aboard the No. 1 Australian Hospital Ship 'Karoola', being assigned to the ship's staff.  This vessel transported wounded AIF troops home from the theatres of the Western Front.  On 26th February 1919, Henry again embarked in Melbourne aboard the AHS "Karoola" for another trip to collect and repatriate our wounded, returning to Australia on 24th June.

Following the termination of his period of enlistment, Henry was discharged from the AIF in the 3rd Military District, Victoria, on 12th September 1919.  On the same date, he was re-enlisted in the same rank, with service number V83035, for home service as a member of the Massage Corps, AAMC, at the 5th AGH.  He continued serving in this role until his demobilisation on 9th May 1920.  He was later awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service.  Three of his five brothers also served in the AIF, one of whom died of wounds while serving  with the 13th Light Horse Regiment in France, in 1917.

After the War, Henry opened a private practice in osteopathy, based at 11 Collins Street, Melbourne.  In 1921, he married Anne Elizabeth BAKER, and they had three children, Donald, Robert and Jessie.  Henry died in Austin Hospital Heidelberg, Victoria, on 30th September 1956, aged 66, and his ashes are interred in the Fawkner Memorial Park Cemetery.

Compiled by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS from historical records kept by the National Archives of Australia, Births, Deaths & Marriages Victoria, Find A Grave website, 'The Argus' newspaper of 1 Oct 1956, and various other newspaper articles via Trove.