Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Reginald James Berry, known as ‘Jim’, was born in Newmarket, Vic., the son of James George & Selina Berry, of Elsternwick, Vic.   He listed his residence as Buckley-street, Ironbark, and was a Letter Carrier, employed in “the local post office”.   Aged 22 years & 1 month he had no previous military service.   He was amongst the early volunteers for the Expeditionary Force, enlisting on 18.8.14.   The following day he left Bendigo for the Broadmeadows Camp.   He was allotted Service no. 770 and appointed to ‘G’ Company, 7th Battalion.   

While at Broadmeadows Camp the men in one tent, calling themselves ‘The Boobaroos’, began a series of letters to the Editor of the Bendigo Advertiser, in which their correspondent, Ky Curtayne, described camp life.    “Well to tell you of my pals.  First we have Jim Berry, and anyone who knows Jim can reckon on him keeping things going . . . .  [Bendigo Advertiser September 2, 1914]   

On October 14, the battalion was training in Field Exercises in attack and defence.    “Jim is ‘powder monkey’ to our company, and a good one too.  He says it’s a bit heavier than letters”.  [Curtayn: Bendigo Advertiser October 20, 1914]   

The 7th Battalion left Broadmeadows Camp on 18 October, 1914, and embarked for service overseas on board HMAT ‘Hororata’.   Arriving in Egypt the battalion moved into camp at Mena, at the foot of the pyramids.   (6/12/14)     

In January, 1915, the Australian force was re-organized.   In the 7th Battalion ‘G’ and ‘H’ Companies joined to form the new ‘D’ Company.      This meant that all the men from Northern Victoria were together in one Company.   

On March 13, 1915,  ‘Jim’ Berry was sent to No. 2 Australian Field Ambulance and then admitted to Mena House Hospital suffering from influenza.   He was not discharged until the day the battalion moved out of camp.   The 7th Battalion was part of the force which landed at Anzac Cove on 25th April, 1915.   ‘Jim’ Berry did not participate in the Landing.   

In May, Lieut.-General Sir W.R. Birdwood, in command of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, was asked to provide part of the Australian force to assist in a British offensive at Cape Helles.    The 2nd Australian Brigade, which included the 7th Battalion, was one of two brigades provided.    The 7th Battalion left Anzac and disembarked at ‘V’ Beach, Cape Helles, on May 6th.  ‘Jim’ Berry was among a group of reinforcements which joined the battalion at Cape Helles at 4 pm on May 8th.   At 4.57 pm the battalion received Orders to be ready to move forward.    The battalion moved forward on what was later known as the “2nd Battle of Krithia”  (8-11 May).   This battle achieved minimal gain and casualties were extremely high.  The battalion returned to Anzac Cove on 17th May 1915.   

On July 3, 1915, the 7th Battalion relieved the 8th Battalion in the trenches at Steele’s Post.

On July 5 the Battalion War Diary recorded:  “From 4.05 a.m. until 7.45 a.m. the enemy bombarded the sector held by the 7th Bn with shrapnel & high explosive shell of about 15 pr from Battleship Hill Mortar & Gun Ridges”.  

Reginald James Berry was Wounded (5/7/15), sustaining Shrapnel wounds to his back and right buttock, a fractured rib and a perforated ear drum.    He RTA M.U. on 12/12/15.   

The Long Gully Fire Brigade organized a “Welcome Home” for Reginald James Berry.   The members of the brigade presented him with a gold medal, inscribed “Presented to Private Berry in recognition of his services at Gallipoli”.  [Bendigonian  March 2, 1916]   

“The First Lot.   7th Battalion.   The first men of the Bendigo district to volunteer for service in the First World War.”: Larna Malone