MS3594
KINGSMILL, Nigel Travers
| Service Number: | 7399 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 9 August 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 5th Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Gunnedah, New South Wales, 24 July 1890 |
| Home Town: | Albury, Albury Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Albury Grammar School |
| Occupation: | Bank Teller |
| Died: | Natural causes, Sydney, New South Wales, 14 September 1975, aged 85 years |
| Cemetery: |
Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, NSW Cremated - Memorial Plaque |
| Memorials: | Albury Grammar School Honour Roll, Bank of New South Wales Roll of Honour Book |
World War 1 Service
| 9 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 7399, 5th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Sep 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Gunner, 5th Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 1 Nov 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Bombardier, 5th Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 18 Nov 1915: | Involvement Bombardier, 7399, 5th Field Artillery Brigade , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Persic embarkation_ship_number: A34 public_note: '' | |
| 18 Nov 1915: | Embarked Bombardier, 7399, 5th Field Artillery Brigade , HMAT Persic, Sydney | |
| 15 Dec 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 5th Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 15 Jul 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 5th Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 1 Dec 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 5th Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 7 Apr 1918: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Lieutenant, 5th Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 3 Jun 1919: | Honoured Military Cross, Breaching the Hindenburg Line - Cambrai / St Quentin Canal, For most conspicuous devotion to duty and gallantry on two occasions - at Joncourt on 4 October, 1918 in operating a forward report centre under heavy shell fire and at Ponchaux on 8/9 October, 1918 for disregard for danger in remaining at post without protection, issuing orders, during a heavy bomb attack. | |
| 13 Jul 1919: | Embarked AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 5th Field Artillery Brigade , HT 'Persic'at London for return to Australia - arriving 2 September, 1919. | |
| 25 Oct 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 5th Field Artillery Brigade |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Michael Silver
The second oldest of four brothers that served in artillery units with distinction in World War 1. All four held commissions as officers during the conflict.
Nigel Travers Kingsmill enlisted in August, 1915 at Albury, New South Wales. A bank teller with the Bank of New South Wales he was the son of John Johnson and Amy Elizabeth Kingsmill.
Born in at Gunnedah, New South Wales in 1890 during the time his father was the Clerk of Petty Sessions at the Gunnedah Court House, Nigel showed a strong will and determination to succeed at an early age. In the late 1890s the family left Gunnedah when JJ Kingsmill was appointed to Muswellbrook. It was here, in his formative years, that young Nigel showed a strong academic cability, regularly receiving academic and citizenship awards.
The family moved to Albury in 1907 and Nigel, after completing his bank entrance examinations, joined the Albury branch of the Bank of New South Wales.
In August, 1915 he along with younger brother Colin, enlisted on the same day at Albury in the 5th Field Artillery Brigade. Both were sent to the Western Front with the unit.
Nigel quickly rose to the rank of Lieutenant in December, 1916 and in April, 1918 was mentioned, for conspicuous service, in the despatches of Sir Douglas Haig.
He was also awarded the Military Cross for most conspicuous devotion to duty and gallantry in the closing weeks of the war. On October 4, 1918, he established a forward observation post for his brigade at Joncourt and remained at his post for 24 hours without any cover and under heavy shell fire. During this period he was able to direct artillery fire in support of attacking troops. On the night of October 8/9 at Ponchaux, the artillery brigade was subject to continuous bomb attack but Lieutenant Kingsmill displayed 'wonderful disregard' for danger, remaining at his post and issuing orders without any protection from bombs - his devotion to duty being 'of the highest order'.
After the war Nigel Kingsmill returned to the Bank of New South Wales, taking up the position of manager of the Lautoka branch in Fiji. In 1925 he married Leila Gwendoline Livingston at Suva.
Returning to Australia, he managed the Katoomba and Chatswood branches of the bank. The gallant Nigel Travers Kingsmill MC died in Sydney on September 15, 1975, aged 85.
His older brother, Major Horace Kingsmill DSO of the 1st Field Artillery Brigade was killed in action at Zillebeke, Belgium on August 8, 1917. The younger two brothers, Lieutenant Colin Kingsmill and Lieutenant Kenneth Kingsmill both survived the war and returned to Australia.
Credit: RG McLean
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