GASKELL, Henry Knight
| Service Number: | 2375 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 August 1915, Liverpool, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 20th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Stirling East, South Australia , 12 December 1886 |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Stirling East Public School & Sturt Street School, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Fettler |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 15 April 1916, aged 29 years |
| Cemetery: |
Erquinghem-Lys Churchyard Extension |
| Memorials: | Aldgate War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Crafers WW1 Memorial, Goulburn District Railway Employees Great War Honour Roll, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 3 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2375, Liverpool, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Sep 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2375, 20th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ballarat embarkation_ship_number: A70 public_note: '' | |
| 6 Sep 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2375, 20th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ballarat, Sydney |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
Henry Knight GASKELL, (Service Number 2375) was born 12 December 1886 at Stirling East, South Australia. He began working with the Railways not long before enlisting, on 3 August 1914. At this time, he was a labourer in the Per-Way Branch. He progressed to become a fettler in November 1914, but on 17 July 1915, he enlisted to join the AIF. He was 28-years-old when he enlisted. He embarked at Sydney on HMAT ‘Argyllshire’ on 30 September 1915.
He was killed in action on 15 April, by a premature explosion of a bomb. He was buried in Erquinghem-Lys Churchyard Extension, Erquinghem-Lys, Lille, Nord Pas de Calais, France.
Submitted 18 July 2023 by John Oakes
Biography
"LATE PTE H. K. GASKELL.
The late Pte. Harry Knight Gaskell was the third son of Mr. and Mrs. Gaskell, of Stirling East. He was born on December 12, 1886, and received his education at the Stirling East Public School, and the Sturt Street (Adelaide) School. At the latter institution he qualified to become a teacher, but decided to learn carpentry. Eventually he went to New South Wales, and at the time of his enlistment was in the employ of the Railway Department of that State. He went to the front with reinforcements to the 20th Battalion in August, 1915, and was killed in action on April 15, 1916. He possessed a bright and happy disposition, and was highly respected by a wide circle of friends." - from the Adelaide Register 17 May 1916 (nla.gov.au)
Biography contributed by John Oakes
Henry Knight GASKELL (Service Number 2375) was born 12th December 1886 at Stirling East, South Australia. He began working with the Railways on 3rd August 1914. At this time, he was a labourer in the Per-Way Branch. He progressed to become a fettler in November 1914. On 17th July 1915, he enlisted to join the AIF. He was 28-years-old when he enlisted. He embarked at Sydney on HMAT ‘Argyllshire’ on 30th September 1915.
He was admitted to hospital on 22nd December 1915 for corns on his feet while he was in Helouan, Egypt. He was not incapacitated for long because he was dispatched to Tel-el-Kebir on 29th December. He embarked the HMT ‘Ingoma’ at Alexandria on 18th March 1916 to join the British Expeditionary Forces in France. He disembarked at Marseilles on 25th March 1916.
He was killed in action in France on 15th April by a premature explosion of a bomb. He was buried in Erquinghem-Lys Churchyard Extension, Erquinghem-Lys, Lille, Nord Pas de Calais, France.
He left everything to his father, and his father received a number of personal items following his death, including a comb, a scarf, letters, and cards. His father also received the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal for his son’s service.
- based on notes for the Great Sydney Central station Honour Board
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