REDMAN, Reuben Joseph
| Service Number: | N/A |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 June 1915, Enlisted at Liverpool. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 18th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Gloucester, New South Wales, Australia, 6 July 1898 |
| Home Town: | Gloucester, Gloucester Shire, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Tram Cleaner |
| Died: | Cerebro Spinal Meningitis, New South Wales, Australia, 11 July 1915, aged 17 years |
| Cemetery: |
Rookwood Cemeteries & Crematorium, New South Wales |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Jun 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 18th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Liverpool. | |
|---|---|---|
| Date unknown: | Involvement Private, N/A, 18th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by John Oakes
Reuben Joseph REDMAN was born on 16th July 1898 at Gloucester, NSW. He commenced work for the Tramways in Sydney on 8th June 1915 as a cleaner with the Electric Trams Branch. He was permanent from the outset and paid 3/- per day.
Eleven days after starting work Redman was released from duty to join the Expeditionary Forces on 19th June and he enlisted at Liverpool on 21st June. He gave his age as 18 years and 1 month, though he was actually just 16 years and 11 months.
That was not the only bending of the truth on his Attestation Papers. He gave his ‘trade or calling’ as ‘Electrical Engineer’ whereas he really only had 11 days experience of cleaning trams. He was unmarried and gave his mother Myra Cameron Redman as his next of kin.
Redman was notionally allotted to the 3rd Reinforcements to the 18th Australian Infantry Battalion, but never went beyond Liverpool Military Camp. Sometime between 21st June and early July 1915 he developed cerebro-spinal meningitis and was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney where he died on 11th July. The death certificate has his correct age as 16 years. It also records that he was born in Casino, and not Gloucester. Redman was buried on 14th July at the Presbyterian Cemetery, Rookwood.
He was not eligible for campaign medals, but his father was given, in 1923, the Memorial Scroll and the Memorial Plaque. His mother applied for a pension in May 1921, but this was rejected.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.