REYNOLDS, Richard John
| Service Number: | 162 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 October 1915, at Adelaide |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 43rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Regency Park, South Australia, February 1883 |
| Home Town: | Kent Town, Norwood Payneham St Peters, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Electrician |
| Died: | 11 February 1942, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
West Terrace Cemetery (AIF Section) Section: LO, Road: 7S, Site No: 35 |
| Memorials: | Kurralta Park Employees of the Adelaide Electric Supply Company Limited Roll of Honour, Prospect Roll of Honour G-Z WWI Board |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Oct 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 162, 43rd Infantry Battalion, at Adelaide | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Jun 1916: | Involvement Private, 162, 43rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Jun 1916: | Embarked Private, 162, 43rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Adelaide | |
| 26 May 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 162, 43rd Infantry Battalion, German Spring Offensive 1918, Gassed |
Help us honour Richard John Reynolds's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
Before War:
Richard John Reynolds was born in Tam O’Shanter Belt (now Regency Park), South Australia in approximately February 1883, which was also where he grew up. Richard then because an electrician. Richard was 5 feet and 4 ½ inches and only weighed 122 pounds which is 55 kilograms; his chest measurement was 31.33 inches. Richard’s hair was dark brownish-black, and his eyes were blue. Richard practiced the religion of Methodism.
During the war:
Richard enrolled into the First World War on October 21st, 1915 at the age of 32 years and 8 months old. He then had to say his goodbyes and head off in the HMAT Afric-19 they first stopped at Egypt to resupply and then they finished their journey and went to Britain in 1916 along with his 43rd Battalion. Richard and the rest of the 43rd Battalion then arrived on the Western Front late in the year.
Richard spent much of the first half of 1917 ill in hospital and did not actually return to his unit in France until the very end of the year. He was wounded in action (by gas) on 26 May 1918 and evacuated for England for treatment. He returned to the 43rd battalion after they had been withdrawn from action in October 1918.
At 11 am on the 11th of November 1918, the guns were hushed, the bombs were defused, and Richard John Reynolds had survived and fought in one of the biggest events in history. in early 1919 Richard John Reynolds returned to Australia.
After the war:
Richard returned to Australia on the 21st of June 1919 with his 2 medals. These were the British war medal and the Victory medal, which were awarded to most soldiers and are a great honour to revive. He continued his life with his wife and then he passed away on the 11th of February 1942 when he was only 58 years old. He is currently laid to rest at the AIF cemetery.
Bibliography:
• National Archives of Australia. (1914). REYNOLDS Richard John: Service Number - 162: Place of Birth - Tam O’Shanter Belt SA : Place of Enlistment - Adelaide SA : Next of Kin - (Wife) REYNOLDS Mabel. [online] Available at: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8029273
• www.awm.gov.au. (n.d.). AWM4 Subclass 23/60 - 43rd Infantry Battalion. [online] Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1339186 [Accessed 5 Mar. 2021]
• www.awm.gov.au. (n.d.). HMAT Afric. [online] Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2076729 [Accessed 5 Mar. 2021]
•Awm.gov.au. (2016). | The Australian War Memorial. [online] Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51483
• History.com Editors (2009). World War I. [online] HISTORY. Available at: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/world-war-i-history
• vwma.org.au. (n.d.). Richard John REYNOLDS. [online] Available at: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/241504 [Accessed 23 Mar. 2021
Click images to start slideshow.