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GASKELL, Wilfred Samuel
| Service Number: | 694 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 25 August 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Stirling (SA), Adelaide Hills, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Adelaide High School |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Memorials: | Adelaide High School Great War Honour Board, Aldgate War Memorial, Willalo & District WW1 Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 25 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1 | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 694, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 694, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Adelaide | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, 694, 10th Infantry Battalion | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement 10th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières |
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Original member of F Company 10th Battalion
Biography contributed by Heathfield High School
Wilfred was born in the year 1893 in Stirling East in the county of Onkaparinga S.A. He attended Adelaide High School, and he joined the Junior Cadets serving during the years 1908-1909. After school Wilfred had a job as a clerk until he enlisted into the AIF.
On the 25th of August 1914, Wilfred Samuel Gaskell enlisted. He was assigned to the 10th Infantry Battalion, one of the earliest infantry units that was raised for the AIF during world war 1. The 10th battalion along with the 9th, 11th, and 12th battalions formed the 3rd brigade. The 10th battalion embarked just two months after it was formed in August, they embarked in October. The battalion started towards Egypt, briefly stopping at Albany in Western Australia, and then continuing on their journey to land in Egypt in early December of 1914.
They spent some months training while in Egypt before deploying in Gallipoli on the 25th of April 1915. They landed at 4:30am and were the first ashore, as the 3rd brigade was the covering force for the ANZAC landing, and they fought in the initial battle as well as the ensuing 8 months of conflict at Gallipoli. Wilfred would have experienced terrible casualties and intense combat that was suffered by the 10th Battalion during the campaign. However, records show that Wilfred survived the initial tragic battles and conflict, although he was taken ill with pyrexia and admitted to the 15th General Hospital on the 3rd of May 1915.
On the 26th of July 1916 Wilfred married Daisy Gertrude Maidment, before he eventually transferred to the 1st Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield on the 16th of September 1916. On an unknown date, Wilfred was discharged from the hospital and proceeded to France on the 20th of August 1917, where he regrouped with the 10th Battalion on the 26th of August 1917 and was appointed Lance Corporal on the same day.
Gaskell would have fought with the 10th Battalion Passchendaele (July-November 1917) and at Polygon Wood (September-October 1917)
After about 2-3 months at combat Wilfred was transferred to the 26th General Hospital with trench fever 9th November 1917, and he was sent back to hospital in England 21st November 1917. He was transferred to the Queen Mary Hospital on the 9th of December 1917. He was granted furlough 1st January - 15th January when he reported to the No 1 Command Depot 26th March 1918 and was promoted to Temporary Corporal. He marched out to Australian Headquarters in London 25th October 1918.
In late October he was granted 75 days leave and report back to headquarters 9th January 1919. He returned to Australia with his wife on the ship 'Osterley' and disembarked 22nd February 1919 after 4 years and 205 days of service.
Wilfred Samuel Gaskell was discharged from the army on 17th of March 1919 due to being medically unfit.
Bibliography
Naa.gov.au. (2024). Abbreviations used in First World War and Second World War service records | naa.gov.au. [online] Available at: https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/defence-and-war-service-records/researching-war-service/abbreviations-used-first-world-war-and-second-world-war-service-records.
Wikipedia. (2024). 3rd Brigade (Australia). [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3rd_Brigade_(Australia) [Accessed 7 Jun. 2024].
www.awm.gov.au. (n.d.). 10th Australian Infantry Battalion. [online] Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51450#:~:text=The%2010th%20Battalion%20was%20among [Accessed 7 Jun. 2024].
National Archives of Australia. (1914). Gaskell Wilfred Samuel : SERN 694 : POB Stirling East SA : POE Morphettville SA : NOK W Gaskell Daisy Gertrude. [online] Available at: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4028356 [Accessed 7 Jun. 2024].
vwma.org.au. (n.d.). Australian Soldiers, Memorials and Military History. [online] Available at: https://vwma.org.au/explore/projects/137184/edit?t=1717722176856 [Accessed 7 Jun. 2024].