Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Reginald Roy Foulkes (1895-1964)

By Allen Hancock

Roy Foulkes was a long-time friend of my grandfather, Robert Claude Hancock (Bob). He was born Reginald Roy Foulkes on 1 July 1895 in North Adelaide, the second and youngest child of Samuel Drew Foulkes and Evelyn Evangeline Cook. On 1 August 1897 Samuel Foulkes died leaving his widow with two boys aged five and two to care for. On 3 December 1900, Evelyn married Alfred Henry West, the family living on the North East Road, Gilles Plains. Alfred West died on 28 December 1913.

Roy Foulkes was educated at Gilles Plains and Nailsworth schools and later went to work as a tram conductor. To fulfil his obligation for militia service he served for 3 years as a member of the 10th Australian Infantry Regiment (Adelaide Rifles).  At the outbreak of war Roy Foulkes enlisted in the AIF initially as a member of D Company Base Infantry at Adelaide’s Keswick Barracks on 26 April 1915.

Despite what we know of his birth on his application he stated that he had been born in Lancashire, England and that he was aged 22yrs 10mths.

On 18 May 1915, he was transferred to the 10th Infantry Battalion, 8th Reinforcements.

The 10th Battalion was raised shortly after the outbreak of World War I as part of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF), an all-volunteer force established for overseas service. Recruited in South Australia, the battalion came into being on 17 August 1914 at the Morphettville Racecourse in Adelaide, drawing volunteers mainly from the local population as well as some from Broken Hill in outback New South Wales. Volunteers included men who had previously served in the part-time forces before the war, coming from a variety of units including the 10th Australian Infantry Regiment. Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Stanley Price Weir, after formation the battalion was attached to the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, along with the 9th, 11th and 12th Battalions, and was one of the first units of the AIF raised for the war. With an establishment of 31 officers and 974 other ranks spread across eight companies, the battalion's personnel received a short period of individual basic training, culminating in the presentation of the regimental colours on 17 September and a march past the state Parliament House on 21 September. The following month, collective training at company and battalion level took place at Belair National Park and at Glenelg, South Australia. On 20 October, the battalion embarked on the ex-passenger liner, HMAT Ascanius, bound for the Middle East; it was the first South Australian infantry unit to leave Australia during the war. On 24 April 1915, the 10th Battalion embarked for Gallipoli along with the rest of the 1st Division.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10th_Battalion_(Australia)

On 2 September 1915 Roy embarked for overseas service from Port Adelaide on board the troopship HMAT Anchises. Also on board was my grandfather who had embarked from Port Melbourne having been trained as a medic and was bound for the Number 1 Australian General Hospital in Alexandria. It was probably then that the two had first met. For the journey to Egypt Roy had been promoted to Acting Corporal.

The Anchises arrived at Alexandria in November 1915 and Roy was transferred to another ship bound for Sarpi Camp at Mudros on the Greek Island of Lemnos.

In mid-November, as the Allied commanders debated the future of the campaign, the 3rd Brigade received orders to pull back from the frontline, so that it could be withdrawn to Lemnos for rest. On 16 November, the 10th Battalion took up reserve positions on the beach, before embarking on the transport Princess Ena. It landed at Mudros and spent the rest of November and December there. Roy joined his unit at Mudros on 25 November and on 26 December the 10th Battalion embarked for Egypt, disembarking at Alexandria on 29 December and then moving into camp at Serapeum.

Having reverted to the rank of private on joining his unit Roy Foulkes was promoted to Lance Corporal on 24 January 1916 and on 11 March he was transferred to the 50th Battalion at Tel el Kabir and promoted to Corporal.

The 50th Battalion was raised in Egypt on 26 February 1916, as part of the reorganisation and expansion of the AIF following the Gallipoli campaign and prior to the transfer of the Australian infantry formations to the Western Front in Europe. This expansion was achieved by transferring cadres of experienced personnel predominately from the 1st Division to the newly formed battalions and combining them with recently recruited personnel who had been dispatched as reinforcements from Australia. With an authorised strength of just over 1,000, the unit's first intake of personnel was drawn from men originating from South Australia, many of whom had already served with the 10th Battalion. Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Hurcombe, the battalion became part of the 13th Brigade attached to the 4th Australian Division.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50th_Battalion_(Australia)

Roy was promoted again to the rank of Sergeant before the 10th Battalion embarked from Alexandria on 5 June 1916.

After arriving in France on 11 June 1916, the battalion was committed to the fighting, moving up to the front on 28 June. Its first major action came during the Battle of Mouquet Farm during August and September, during which the 50th suffered over 400 casualties.

Mouquet Farm was situated to the right of the road running from Pozières to Thiepval, south of Grandcourt and to the south-west of Courcelette, about 1.7 km north-west of the high ground near Pozières. Following the fighting that had occurred around Pozières earlier in the year a decision was made by the British to gain control of the ridge beyond the village to create a gap in the German lines behind the salient that had developed around the German-held fortress of Thiepval. By capturing Mouquet Farm, the British hoped that it would destabilise the German position and enable subsequent gains.

During the night of 10 August, parties of the 4th Australian Division attacked towards the farm and managed to establish advanced posts in the valley south of the farm and to the east. Attacks were then made from a foothold in Fabeck Trench to the north-east and to deepen the salient near the farm. The attack was unsuccessful, and it was only later learned that the main defensive position was underground, where the Germans had excavated the cellars to create linked dugouts. From 29 July to 16 August the 4th Australian Division suffered 4,761 casualties.

10th Battalion Diary.

12 Aug 1916.    

Battalion moved to Wire Trench at 6 am arriving at 8:30 am without mishap. Heavy fog favourable for move. Orders received from 4th Brigade HQ to proceed to front line as quickly as possible. A Company moved out at 10:30 am followed an hour later by B, C and D Companies. Enemy heavily bombarded trench leading up and extra heavy barrage immediately on arrival in front line.

Later. Enemy shell fire violent and continuous at 6 pm. Impossible for D Company to take over from 16th Battalion while barrage lasted.

Casualties fairly heavy and work of removing same to dressing station very difficult. Our aeroplanes active observing enemy fire. One #### brought down by our planes but seemingly fell in German lines. 7 pm. Enemy fire easing slightly, our artillery very active. Battalion to attack at 10:30 tonight.

13 Aug 1916

Terrific barrage by our artillery from 10:30 to 11 pm last night. Battalion very successful in gaining objective. Casualties to 9 am approximately 100. Killed 20. Wounded 80. Heavy enemy bombardment all day, especially around headquarters and saps leading to front line. Very difficult to take food and water up. Captain Hancock FH wounded in thigh but after receiving dressing returned to his company. Later. Enemy artillery still very active but position taken last night consolidated and everything going smoothly.

14 Aug 1916

Terrific bombardment all day. Enemy guns blowing trenches and saps to pieces. Stretcher bearers and runners having very difficult task and have been augmented. Very fine individual acts being performed. Casualties to 12 noon about 45 killed and 105 wounded. Lieutenant Baynes wounded and shell shock.

15 Aug 1916

Heavy enemy bombardment up till midnight last night. Battalion again attacked at 10 pm but were weakened by the all day bombardment and were only partially successful. Casualties to 12 noon 110 killed and 400 wounded approximately. Officers wounded Lieutenant Colonel Hurcombe (shellshock), Captain Fowler, Lieutenants WH Bowden, RL Rhodes, VG Dridan, and FW Hogarth. Battalion to be relieved tonight.

16 Aug 1916

Relieved by 4th Battalion 1st Brigade and battalion started to move out about 8 pm last night, last company arriving at Wire Trench after midnight. Showery weather made move out difficult, but in spite of heavy shelling casualties during move were slight. Battalion stayed at Wire Trench all night and moved to Brickfields at 9 am. Bivouaced at Brickfields and Battalion very weary and knocked up. Lieutenant V G Dridan died of wounds received.

Among the wounded on 16 August was Sergeant Roy Foulkes. Officially recorded as having received a gunshot wound to the face and eyes Roy was most likely injured by shrapnel. Nearly all such wounds were normally documented as “GSW”. His records do state however that this was his “second occasion” although there is no mention of the first time he was wounded. This is likely to have been an injury that required a dressing and then return to the front line. The new injury was such that evacuation was required.

Roy would have been carried through the mud by stretcher bearers to the dressing station from where he would be transported to the 4th Australian Field Ambulance attached to his own division behind the lines. From the Field Ambulance Roy travelled, probably on an ambulance train, to Rouen where he was admitted to the 1st Australian General Hospital at Rouen.

Twelve days later Roy embarked for England on the Hospital Ship Asturias and was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth. On his release from hospital, Roy was transferred to the No 1 Command Depot at Perham Down for convalescence.

Following a request from the British to raise another division to complement the five already deployed on the Western Front, the 16th Infantry Brigade was formed in England, on the Salisbury Plain, as part of the 6th Division on 17 March 1917. The brigade was formed mainly from convalescents who were in Britain recovering. On 23 March 1917 Roy Foulkes was promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer Class II and appointed as a Company Sergeant Major in the 70th Battalion at Wareham, formed as part of the new 16th Brigade. Two weeks later though he reverted to the rank of Sergeant when he was charged with the offence of being “Out of Bounds”.

In September 1917 Roy was sent on a training course at Candahar Barracks in Tidworth Camp after which Roy was transferred to the Overseas Training Brigade at Perham Down, the 70th Battalion having been disbanded due to manpower shortages in the AIF following the Battle of Bullecourt and Battle of Messines. From there he travelled to Southampton and embarked for Le Havre in France and rejoined the 50th Battalion on 29 November 1917 where the unit was resting and training in Méneslies.

In early 1918, the 50th Battalion undertook a defensive role south of the Ancre, helping to repulse the Spring Offensive, a major German offensive that was launched on the Western Front following the collapse of Russia.

On 1 March 1918, Roy was promoted once again to the rank of Warrant Officer Class II and appointed as a Company Sergeant Major. In early April, the battalion took part in the Second Battle of Dernancourt. Later that month, on the morning of 24/25 April 1918—Anzac Day—the battalion took part in an Allied counterattack at Villers-Bretonneux.

On 2 August the 50th Battalion was located south of Villers-Bretonneux where it was preparing to join what would be the final Allied offensive of the war when Roy report sick. He was diagnosed as suffering from Impetigo, an infection of the skin caused by bacteria. It is often called school sores because it is common among school children, a relatively minor condition but due to its contagious nature evacuation from the front line was necessary.

From the 4th Australian Field Ambulance, he was sent to the British 47th Casualty Clearing Station and on to the American 16th General Hospital at Le Treport and eventually to the 2nd Canadian General Hospital also at Le Treport. Roy rejoined his unit on 29 September, and the following week was detached to the 4th Army Infantry School until 4 November 1918.

With the Americans joining the war, it was time for the Australians to take some well-earned leave. Roy marched out for leave in England on 8 November 1918 and rejoined his unit on 22 November, the war having finally ended. On 1 January 1919, Roy was promoted to Warrant Officer Class I and appointed a Regimental Sergeant Major. After the cessation of hostilities, the 50th Battalion was amalgamated with the 51st Battalion on 6 March 1919 and together they were later also amalgamated with the 49th Battalion.

Roy left France on 8 April for England and embarked for Australia from Southampton on HMAT Port Napier on 12 May 1919 arriving in Adelaide on 29 June 1919. He was discharged on 12 September 1919.

After the war, Roy Foulkes returned to his former job as a tram conductor, an occupation at which he continued for the remainder of his working life. My grandfather, having been an engine driver at the Port Pirie Smelters before the war, also went to work with the tramways as a motorman in 1919. He and Roy remained friends.

On 1 June 1921 Roy Foulkes married Iren Hilda Bradley (Rene) at the Congregational Church, Kensington Gardens. They made their home at 20 Torrens Avenue, Hindmarsh West. Roy Folkes passed away on 12 January 1964. There is no record of Roy and Rene having had children.

Son of Samuel Drew FOULKES and Evangeline nee COOK

Roy Reginald Foulkes was born on the 30th June 1895 in South Australia who was raised by a woman named Evelyne West and lived at Gilles Plains in South Australia. He went to Nailsworth and Gilles Plain's Public Schools in his town. He took a job as a tram conductor where he made a reasonable living.

WW1 Enlistment

When Roy Reginald was 22 years old on the 26th April 1915, he had signed up to become a soldier at Keswick in South Australia where he filled in his information in an enlistment document and was accepted into the Australian Imperial Force as a private where he was trained in basic survival skills and combat. Finally on the 2nd September 1915, Roy Reginald Foulkes left Australia onto the HMAT A68 Anchises. After arriving in Egypt, he travelled to Lemnos (a Greek island in the north Aegean and the main British base for the Gallipoli campaign) and joined the 10th Battalion. It is unclear whether he went to Gallipoli. On the 26th of December, Roy Reginald and the 10th Battalion sailed to Egypt.

Roy Reginald was also getting prepared for his battalion’s deployment to Europe on the frontlines. At this time, experienced personnel were brought up to the newly founded 50th Infantry Battalion assigned to the 13th Brigade and the 4th Division. Roy was one of those, joining the 50th Battalion on 26th February 1916. Before the and the Battalion left for France, in June, he had been promoted to Sergeant.

Sometime around August, Roy Reginald and the 50th Battalion were part of the battle to capture Mouquet Farm, part of the larger battle of Pozières. Here he was wounded in the face and eyes, probably by shrapnel, and sent to England for treatment. After a couple of months in hospital, he was transferred to training units for convalescence, and spent most of 1917 in England. He rejoined the 50th Battalion after the Ypres fighting, on 26 November 1917. On 1 March 1918 he was promoted to Company Sergeant Major and fought at Ancre and Villers Bretonneux in April. In early August 1918 he was sent to hospital with impetigo and rejopined his unit at the end of September. Shortly before the end of the war, on 1 November 1918, he was promoted to Regimental Sergeant Major. On 12 May 191 he sailed for Australia and he was discharged from service onthe 12th of September 1919, back in Adelaide.

Not much is known about Roy’s life after WW1 as a soldier Roy Reginald Foulkes died on the 12th January 1964.