GRAVES, Oswald Clarence
| Service Numbers: | R78, 78 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 February 1915, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 27th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Adelaide, South Australia, 23 December 1896 |
| Home Town: | Mile End, City of West Torrens, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Flinders & Gilles Street Public Schools, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Reader's Assistant |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 3 November 1916, aged 19 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Gilles Street Primary School WW1 Honour Board (Original), Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, New Thebarton Lodge No 23 U.A.O.D. Roll of Honour, Torrensville New Thebarton Lodge No 23 U.A.O.D. Honour Roll, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 15 Feb 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Mar 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, R78, 27th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: RMS Mongolia embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 9 Mar 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, R78, 27th Infantry Battalion, RMS Mongolia, Adelaide | |
| 3 Nov 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 78, 27th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 78 awm_unit: 27 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-11-03 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
Life Before the War
Oswald Clarence graves was born on December 23rd, 1896 in the town of Mile End in the city of West Torrens South Australia. He had no prior military experience. He had never been married and named his mother as next of kin. Oswald Clarence Graves had brown hair, blue eyes, 33.35 chest measurement, 136lbs and was 5 foot 4 ¾ inches tall. Graves attended Flinders and Gilles Street public schools. On leaving school he generally was employed at the Advertiser's office as a reader's assistant where he would stay until he joined up.
Life During the War
Oswald Clarence graves enlisted for the war on the 2nd of February 1915 and served in the 27th Battalion. The 27th Battalion had weeks of very intensive training, route marches, and farewell parades until Graves and his comrades embarked on their journey to Egypt Gallipoli onboard the RMS Mongolia.
He travelled to Gallipoli with the 27th Battalion and fought there until he was struck down with enteric fever. He was evacuated to Egypt and then returned to Australia. But after recovering, Graves sailed again to Egypt and then on to the war in France. He rejoined the 27th Battalion on 1 July and fought with the unit at Pozières. He was eventually killed in action on 3 November 1916. This was not during major fighting; the 27th Battalion had moved into the line at Le Barque, near Bapaume.
Biography
"THE LATE PRIVATE O. C. GRAVES.
A cablegram has been received by Mr. S. B. Graves, Gladstone-road, Mile-End, announcing that his son, Private Oswald Clarence Graves had been killed in action in France. Private Graves, who was 20 years of age, was educated at the Flinders and Gilles-street public schools. On leaving school he was employed at 'The Advertiser' office, where he remained until he enlisted in the original 27th Battalion. On reaching Egypt he was stricken with enteric fever, and was sent back to Australia to recuperate. He remained here for about three months, and then again left for the front with reinforcements to his old battalion, which he rejoined in Egypt. He was well liked by all who knew him, and the news of his death was received with deep regret by his former work-mates. The only other son of Mr. Graves, Private Charles Graves, is on active service." - from the Adelaide Chronicle 23 Dec 1916 (nla.gov.au)
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