Spencer GWYNNE DCM

GWYNNE, Spencer

    Service Numbers: 413, W47851
    Enlisted: 1 October 1914, Served as dismounted infantryman Gallipoli from 21 May 1915 to Dec 1915 and as mounted horseman in Egypt Dec 1915 to Dec 1918
    Last Rank: Lieutenant
    Last Unit: 10th Light Horse Regiment
    Born: Port Augusta, South Australia, Australia, 3 September 1891
    Home Town: Woodanilling, Woodanilling, Western Australia
    Schooling: Eurelia, South Australia, Australia
    Occupation: Farmer then Roads Board Secretary
    Died: Heart attack, Armadale, Western Australia, Australia, 24 April 1959, aged 67 years
    Cemetery: Karrakatta Cemetery & Crematorium, Western Australia
    Grave No. Anglican W1 456 "GWYNNE" (Adjacent to Aberdare Road)
    Memorials: Woodanilling War Memorial
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    World War 1 Service

    1 Oct 1914: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 413, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Served as dismounted infantryman Gallipoli from 21 May 1915 to Dec 1915 and as mounted horseman in Egypt Dec 1915 to Dec 1918
    17 Feb 1915: Embarked Private, 413, 10th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Surada, Fremantle
    17 Feb 1915: Involvement Private, 413, 10th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Surada embarkation_ship_number: A52 public_note: ''
    16 Aug 1915: Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 10th Light Horse Regiment, At Gallipoli Aug 1915 the 10th Light Horsemen as dismounted infantry, at Russell's Top in the pre-dawn of 7th Aug 1915 assaulted Turkish positions on the Nek - they formed the 3rd and 4th waves of attack and were mostly mown down by Turkish rifle and machine gun fire. Private Gwynne was promoted to Lance Corporal a week later.
    22 Jan 1916: Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Promoted to Corporal at Heliopolis, Egypt 22nd Jan 1916
    12 Dec 1916: Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Promoted to Sergeant at Malha, Egypt 12th Dec 2016
    23 Dec 1916: Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal, Battle of Magdhaba, The following report was handwritten and signed by Lt Col Todd, C.O. of 10th Light Horse Regiment. "This NCO who was with 2/Lt Cox in the charge through the Enemy's Southern Redoubt showed conspicuous gallantry throughout the action. When 2/Lt Martins horse was killed about 70 yards in rear of Redoubt this NCO galloped up and assisted until the arrival of 2/Lt Cox with spare horse where Martin was able to get to safety. During the whole time, the 3 were subject to very heavy fire & it was very courageous and gallant of Gwynne to act as he did. He undoubtedly shared with 2/Lt Cox in saving 2/L Martin's life".
    9 Mar 1918: Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Sergeant Spencer Gwynne was accepted into the Officer Cadet School at Zeitoun, Egypt and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in March 1918, and attended an Equitation Course in early April.
    3 May 1918: Wounded AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Egypt and Palestine - Light Horse and AFC Operations, Second Lieutenant Gwynne was wounded by shell shrapnel in the left ankle in the Es-Salt Raid, on 3rd May 1918 and he suffered a contusion. He spent a month recovering at 14 Australian General Hospital and rest camp at Port Said before returning to his Regiment.
    10 Jun 1918: Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Second Lieutenant Gwynne was promoted to Lieutenant on 10th June 1918 while his regiment was in reserve and training at Solomon's Ponds outside Jerusalem. He attended a number of training courses over the next two months.
    30 Sep 1918: Wounded AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 413, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Egypt and Palestine - Light Horse and AFC Operations, In the Regiment's push towards Damascus on 29th September 1918 after crossing the Jordan River and pushing against Turkish positions between Kuneitra and of the town of Sasa, Lieut Gwynne received a gun shot wound to his left wrist and was placed on the Regiment's wounded list. In mid December 1918 he was examined by a medical board which noted that he had considerable limitation in movement of his left wrist after suffering a compound communicated fracture of the radius.
    22 Dec 1918: Embarked AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 413, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Lieut Gwynne recovering from his gun shot wound embarked the transport ship "Leicestershire" for Fremantle, Western Australia
    11 Apr 1919: Discharged AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 413, 10th Light Horse Regiment

    World War 2 Service

    12 Jan 1942: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lieutenant, W47851

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