Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Brian was the son of William Gregson ASPINALL & Caroline Helen NANTES and was born on the 10th of October 1891 in Timaru, New Zealand.

His parents were married on the 27th of March 1883 in Temuka, New Zealand.

His father was the son of William Gregson ASPINALL & Caroline Jean HUDSON and was born on the 20th of June 1853 in Cripplegate, England.
His mother was the daughter of Charles James NANTES & Helen Gibb SMITH and was born on the 16th of October 1859 in Newton, Geelong, VIC.

Brian was the sixth child born into the family of 9 children.

His father was a barrister and solicitor and the family lived at “Kynnersley” in High Street, Temuka, South Canterbury, NZ.

His father served his articles with Mr B. C. Haggitt, Crown Solicitor, Dunedin, and was admitted to the Bar in 1882 by Mr Justice Williams. Shortly afterwards he commenced practice in Temuka, and in 1889 took into partnership Mr J. W. Salmond, who afterwards become Professor of Law at Adelaide University, and subsequently a judge of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. He held many public offices in Temuka. He was a member of the Temuka Road Board, before it became merged in the Geraldine County Council, and also of the Arowhenua Cemetery and Domain Boards. He was one of the originators of the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, and acted as secretary for many years, and afterwards served as a member of the council. He was solicitor to the society and to the Temuka Borough Council. At one time he owned a flour mill in Temuka.

Brian was only 6 years old when his mother died on the 19th of April 1898 in Temuka, NZ. They buried her in the South Canterbury Cemetery.

His father then remarried to Frances Theodore NANTES in 1901.
Frances was Brian’s aunty (Margaret’s youngest sister) and was born on the 12th of February 1873 in Little River, VIC.

After completing his education Brian gained employment as a clerk in Temuka and served with the New Zealand Territorial Force for 12 months.
His eldest brother Lancelot moved to Australia and it appears that Brian followed him over prior to 1915 and gained employment as a warehouseman.

With the outbreak of WW1 his brothers began to enlist.

On the 1st of September 1914 Lancelot enlisted into the 6th Light Horse Regiment, C Squadron (737).
Then Victor enlisted into the Canterbury Infantry Battalion, 2nd Reinforcements the following month, on the 20th of October (6/1234).
Lancelot embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A29 Suevic on the 21st of December 1914.

At the age of 24, Brian then enlisted in the 1st AIF on the 30th of May 1915 and posted to the 8th Field Ambulance, A Section.

Guy then enlisted into the 9th Reinforcements Canterbury Infantry Battalion, C Company (6/3611), on the 19th of October 1915.

Brian embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT A11 Ascanius on Wednesday the 10th of November 1915 and disembarked in Egypt on the 7th of December.
He served in Egypt and France and whilst overseas another brother William, enlisted into the Otago Infantry, 1st Battalion, J Company (28848).

Brian then gained 2 weeks leave to England on the 17th of July 1917 and went to London to visit his uncle; Sir Thomas McKenzie.
Guy, William & Victor managed to get leave at the same time and the four brothers enjoyed a very happy reunion with their uncle.

Sadly, this was the last time they saw William as he was Killed in Action at Passchendaele on the 1st of October 1917.

On the 20th of December 1918, Brian embarked for Australia on board HT Orontes and after spending Christmas 1918 on board the ship, he disembarked in Sydney on the 1st of February 1919.
Brian was discharged from the AIF on the 20th of March 1919.

He married Margaret Louisa STEELE in 1924 in Sydney, NSW.
Margaret was the daughter of Edward STEELE & Margaret PATRICK and was born on the 9th of March 1889 in Queensland.

Brian gained employment as a clerk with Houghton & Byrne of 2 Bridge Street, Sydney and when they opened an office in Adelaide, Brian and Margaret moved to Firle, South Australia and Brian became the clerk for the Adelaide office.
He was a very good golfer and played for the North Adelaide Club.

Then in 1929 Brian found himself in court charged with embezzlement and the case would go on for more than a year.
On the 19th of September 1930 Brian went to the rescue of a tramways bus driver who had been hit over the head and was being robbed.
Brian saw the bus driver struggling so jumped his front fence and got into the bus through a window and pinned down the robber who was armed with a gun.

On the 31st of August 1931 he was convicted and sentenced to 18 months hard labour in Yatala, but released on probation, 4 months later, on the 23rd of December.

After his release they moved to Meningie for 11 years where Brian became a fisherman and joined the Meningie RSL Sub-Branch.

In 1943 they moved to 31 Tudor Street, Dulwich and Brian and Margaret were employed as Munitions workers.
After the end of WW2 they moved to Nelson, Victoria in 1949 and became the proprietors of the guest house, known as “The Cottage”.

They ran the guest house for 3 years and then later moved to Mt Gambier where Brian joined the Mt Gambier RSL Sub-Branch and played A Grade golf.

Margaret died on the 13th of February 1960 and Brian buried her in the Mt is buried in the Lake Terrace Cemetery, Mt Gambier; Section K, Plot 1068.

Brian died on the 4th of June 1960 and was buried 2 days later in the Lake Terrace Cemetery, Mt Gambier; Section K, Plot 1068, with Margaret.

They never had children.

Military

At the age of 24, Brian enlisted in the 1st AIF on the 30th of May 1915 in Liverpool, NSW and was allotted the service number 6608 and posted to C2 Company in Liverpool.
He listed his father, of Temuka, New Zealand, as his next of kin.
He listed his address as c/o Mrs Mary Nott, 56 York Street, Sydney, NSW.

He was then posted to the Field Hospital on the 18th of June and then on the 13th of August he was posted to the 8th Field Ambulance, A Section, in Melbourne.

Brian embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT A11 Ascanius on Wednesday the 10th of November 1915, disembarked in Egypt on the 7th of December and marched into Aerodrome Camp in Heliopolis.
One week later they moved to Serapeum and spent their first Christmas here away from their family and friends.
On the 25th of February 1916 they moved to Tel-el-Kebir Camp and took over from 3rd Field Ambulance.
It was here that Brian suffered from Influenza on the 2nd of March and was admitted into his own ambulance for 3 days.

They then moved to Ferry Post via Ismalia, on the 30th of March and formed a field hospital and then on the 28th of May they entrained to Moascar for routine training.
On the 16th of June they embarked from Alexandria on board HMT Tunisian, disembarking in Marseilles 7 days later.
From here they moved to Steenbecque and onto Morbeque for further training before moving onto Estaires on the 8th of July.
The following day the moved to Erquinghem and took over from the 4th Australian Field Ambulance before moving onto Fort Rompu, near Bois Grenier on the 15th.

Their baptism of fire took place in the "nursery Sector" near Fleurbaix and Fromelles in the lead up to the battle of the same name. The battle itself overwhelmed all of the medical assets of the 5th Division. Many soldiers were killed in the process of trying to retrieve casualties from the battlefield.

They then took over the Dressing Station at Doulieu on the 4th of August before moving 3 miles to billets in Estaires 10 days later. Their next move was to Armentieres on the 22nd of September and after 3 weeks here they moved 13 miles by motor bus to Strazeele on the 14th of October. After 3 days they moved 5 miles to Bailleul and entrained to Longpre and marched to Ergnies.
Then on the 20th of October they were bussed to Buire then onto Dernacourt, before marching to Thistle Dump at Longueval, 2 days later.
They then moved to Buire on the 5th of November before moving to Chateau Olincourt, at Vignacourt 2 days later.
Whilst here, Brian was promoted to temporary Corporal on the 15th and seconded to the 1st ANZAC Headquarters at Heilly.

Brian spent Christmas 1916 at Heilly and then on the 3rd of January he was admitted sick into hospital for 6 days. Upon his discharge from hospital he rejoined his 8th Field Ambulance, who were still located at Chateau Olincourt.
Two days after his arrival, he was promoted to Corporal and then the following day he was promoted to temporary Sergeant.
On the 3rd of February they moved to Bellevue Farm, near Albert and took over No.5 Dressing Station. Whilst here, Brian spent some time in and out of hospital during the month of March and then on the 13th of April he was promoted to Sergeant.

They then moved to Bapaume on the 1st of June and 2 weeks later they moved to Senlis for training.
Brian then gained 2 weeks leave to England on the 17th of July and when he rejoined his unit they were entrained to St Omer and marched to billets at Racquinghem.
On the 18th of September they took over the 5th Division Rest Station at Remy Siding, near Lijsenthoek (Ypres).

On the 7th of November Brian was Mentioned in Despatches for distinguished and gallant service and devotion to duty in the field during the period 26.2.17 – 20.09.17.
The following month he gained 1 weeks leave to Paris and on rejoining his unit they moved to Wirwignes.
By January 1918 they were resting in the Desvres area near Boulogne, before being moved to the Locre Hospice, Belgium on the 1st of February and whilst here they were billeted in dry lofts.
The following week Brian gained 2 weeks leave to England and after rejoining his unit they moved in late March to Godewaersvelde, then to billets at Vauchelles.

They then moved to Arqueves, Boves and Glisy before opening a Dressing Station at Daours in the Woollen Mills and an Advanced Dressing Station at Aubigny.
Brian was working in the Advanced Dressing Station at Aubigny on the 23rd of April when it came under heavy gas shelling.
Brian was severely gassed and was admitted into the 20th Casualty Clearing Station at Vignacourt.
He was then transferred to the 6th General Hospital in Rouen 2 days later and owing to the severity of the gas poisoning, he was evacuated to England on the 5th of May and admitted into the Red Cross War Hospital in Exeter.

Brian spent nearly 4 weeks here before being discharged to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford on the 3rd of June. He was then discharged to No.3 Command Depot in Hurdcott, 3 weeks later.
He remained here until the 12th of September when he was transferred to No.1 Command Depot in Sutton Veny.
After 4 weeks here Brian was posted to the Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverill. Then on the 1st of November he was posted to the AMC Training Deport in Fovant and 10 days later, the Armistice was signed.
On the 9th of December Brian was transferred to No.4 Command Depot in Fovant and then on the 20th of December he embarked for Australia on board HT Orontes and after spending Christmas 1918 on board the ship, he disembarked in Sydney on the 1st of February 1919.

Brian was discharged from the AIF on the 20th of March 1919 and awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War & Victory Medals.