ASPINALL, George Henry
| Service Number: | 6719 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 11 June 1916, Perth, WA |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Manchester, England, May 1892 |
| Home Town: | Armadale, Armadale, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Orchard hand |
| Died: | Insanity, Stromness Home for the Insane, Cottesloe Beach, Western Australia, 31 October 1924 |
| Cemetery: |
Karrakatta Cemetery & Crematorium, Western Australia Anglican; Section JA; grave 0410 |
| Memorials: | Armadale Congregational Church Honour Board, Armadale Roll of Honor, Armadale War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 11 Jun 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6719, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), Perth, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 1916: | Involvement Private, 6719, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Argyllshire embarkation_ship_number: A8 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Nov 1916: | Embarked Private, 6719, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), HMAT Argyllshire, Fremantle | |
| 28 Mar 1917: | Transferred 32nd Infantry Battalion, reason not recorded |
Help us honour George Henry Aspinall's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Geoffrey Gillon
A George Henry Aspinall spent some time at Rollestone.
At various times the 5th, 6th, and 7th Training Battalions associated with the 2nd Division were located at Rollestone. Also the 4th, 12th and 13th Training Battalions associated with the 4th Division were also based here.
The military camp is 2.9 km to the northeast of the township on the B3086 from Shrewton to Larkhill.
Military usage of land to the northeast of Rollestone began in the early 20th century, as artillery firing ranges which were later used by the Royal School of Artillery at Larkhill Camp. Rollestone Camp was established in 1916 by the Royal Flying Corps for observation balloon training. Around this time the Amesbury and Military Camp Light Railway was extended from Larkhill to
Rollestone and beyond; this extension remained in use until about 1923. Balloon-related usage of Rollestone Camp continued until 1939 when the site became a Royal Air Force Anti-Gas School, which closed in 1945. For several months in 1980–81 the camp was used as a temporary prison (HMP Rollestone Camp) during industrial action by prison officers. The camp continues in use as part of the Salisbury Plain Training Area.
During WW1 a Military Light Railway connected Larkhill to the London and South-western Railway spur, at Amesbury Station, crossed the Packway and terminated at Rolleston Camp, with a spur to the site of the original Fargo ammunition dump. The course of the light railway’s permanent way, though pulled up in 1935, can be traced by a line of apple trees that, it is said, have grown from the seeds of apples thrown out by troops on passing trains.
Biography
1916 Electoral Roll lists George as a farm assistant living in Armadale. His enlistment form records Orchard hand as his occupation in June 1916.
Originally one of the 22nd Reinforcement for the 16th Battalion, on arival in England he is transferred to the 32nd Batalion.
Admitted to 8th Field Ambulance on 1 June 1917 (epileptic seizures), and transferred to 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station, and then on to the Ambulance Train No 31 of 6 June 1917. Admitted on the same day to 6th General Hospital, Rouen before being transferred to England on 9 June 1917, and admitted to War Hospital Reading the following day.
Transferred to the 1st Australian Auxilary Hospital at Harefield on 25 June before discharge to No2 Command Depot, Weymouth on 4 July 1917.
Medical Board at Weymouth on 17 July found him permanently unfit for General Service, and temporarily unfit for Home Service. Commenced his return to Australia on the HT Ulysses on 10 September 1917 and discharged by 5th Military District on 28 Nov 1917 (debility).
In December 1921 he was in Stromness Hospital for the Insane at Cottesloe, and was unable to improve enough before his death to receive his medals.
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