PYLE, Rupert Thomas
| Service Number: | 3610 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 July 1915, Enlisted in Melbourne, allocated to 8th reinforcements for 23rd Inf Bn. |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 4th Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Rushworth, Victoria, Australia , 19 January 1896 |
| Home Town: | Rushworth, Campaspe, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Warrandyte, Victoria, Australia , 31 August 1968, aged 72 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Melbourne Brind, Wall Q, Niche 305 |
| Memorials: | Rushworth St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church WWI Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3610, 23rd Infantry Battalion, Enlisted in Melbourne, allocated to 8th reinforcements for 23rd Inf Bn. | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Jan 1916: | Embarked Private, 3610, 23rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Melbourne | |
| 5 Jan 1916: | Involvement Private, 3610, 23rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 16 May 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 2nd Division Medium and Heavy Trench Mortar Batteries, AIF, Taken on strength with Y2A Medium Trench Mortar Battery | |
| 14 Jul 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Bombardier, 2nd Division Medium and Heavy Trench Mortar Batteries, AIF | |
| 1 Sep 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 2nd Division Medium and Heavy Trench Mortar Batteries, AIF, Promoted in the field, in France. | |
| 19 Nov 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Corporal, 3610, 2nd Division Medium and Heavy Trench Mortar Batteries, AIF, Gassed in Ypres while serving with Y2A Medium Trench Mortar Battery. | |
| 4 Mar 1919: | Transferred AIF WW1, Corporal, 4th Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 13 May 1919: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 4th Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 5 Jul 1919: | Embarked AIF WW1, Sergeant, 3610, 4th Field Artillery Brigade, Embarked in England aboard HMAT Port Melbourne for return to Australia. | |
| 12 Oct 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Sergeant, 3610, 4th Field Artillery Brigade, Discharged in 3rd Military District, Melbourne, due to termination of period of enlistment. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS
Rupert Thomas PYLE was born on 18th January 1896 in Rushworth, Victoria, the eldest of five children born to parents Louisa (nee HILBURN) and Arthur Henry PYLE.
A 19 year old single clerk at the time, Rupert enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in Melbourne on 16th July 1915, and was allocated as a Private with the 8th reinforcements for the 23rd Infantry Battalion, regimental number 3610. After completing his recruit training at the Broadmeadows Camp, Rupert embarked in Melbourne aboard HMAT Afric on 5th January 1916, for active service overseas.
After arriving in Egypt, Rupert marched into the 6th Training Battalion in Moascar on 17th March, before departing from Alexandria with the British Expeditionary Force three days later. On 16th May 1916, Rupert was transferred to the newly raised Y2A Medium Trench Mortar Battery (Y2A MTM Bty) in France, which was a sub unit of the 2nd Division Artillery. They served in support of the 2nd Division Infantry across the Western Front battlefields of France and Belgium. Rupert was promoted to the rank of Bombardier on 14th July 1916, while still in France. (This was changed to Corporal on 1st September 1916, in his Service Record).
Rupert proceeded to the 5th Army Rest Camp in France on 5th June 1917, for a well earned two weeks break from the Front. However, his return to his Unit coincided with the beginning of the first Battle of The Somme.
On 19th November 1917, the Y2A MTM Bty was operating in Ypres, when they were hit by an enemy mustard gas shell. Rupert was one of four who were badly overcome by the gas, and he was evacuated to England, being admitted to the 2/1st Southern General Hospital in Dudley Road, Birmingham on 24th November. He was discharged from hospital on 13th December, and was granted two weeks furlough, after which he reported to Command Depot No. 1 in Sutton Veny, England.
His recuperation from being gassed now considered complete, Rupert marched into the Overseas Training Brigade at Sand Hill Camp in Longbridge, England on 1st June 1918. He departed from Southampton for return to the 2nd Division Artillery in France 18 days later, via the Australian General Base Depot in Le Havre.
With hostilities over, Rupert was transferred to Headquarters of the 4th Field Artillery Brigade on 4th March 1919, with whom he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant on 13th May.
Rupert embarked in England aboard HMAT Port Melbourne on 5th July 1919 for return to Australia, arriving in Melbourne on 20th August. He was subsequently discharged from the AIF on 12th October 1919, in the 3rd Military District, Melbourne, due to the termination of his period of enlistment. Rupert was later awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service. He was also presented with an inscribed 9ct gold fob medallion in appreciation of his service by the residents of his hometown of Rushworth, Victoria.
On 26th April 1924, Rupert married Isabella Wilhelmina MOODY at the Holy Trinity Church in Port Melbourne, Victoria. They had a daughter, Iris Louisa PYLE, born in January 1925. Rupert died on 31st August 1968 in Warrandyte, Victoria, aged 72, and his ashes were interred in the Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Melbourne.
Compiled by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS from historical records kept by the National Archives of Australia, Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria, AWM Unit War Diaries (Y2A Med Trench Mortar Bty), Find A Grave website, and Ancestry.
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