Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK

Died on this date - 15th October.....Corporal Oswald George Gunn was born at Marrickville, Sydney, NSW in 1895. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 5th January, 1915 at Liverpool, Sydney, NSW as a 21 year old Engineer from Haberfield, Sydney, NSW.

Private Gunn embarked from Alexandria on 5th April, 1915 on Derfflinger to join M.E.F. (Mediterranean Expeditionary Force). He joined 3rd Battalion at Anzac (no date) from “Hold Party.” Private Gunn was admitted to Hospital at Valetta, Malta with gunshot wounds to left forearm on 14th June, 1915. He was transferred to England on Hospital Ship Plassey & admitted to Military Hospital at Fulham, London, England on 12th September, 1915.

A Medical Report was completed on Private Gunn on 21st November, 1915 at Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, England. His disability was described as G.S.W. left forearm which had occurred on 19th May, 1915 at Gallipoli while on active service. He had a compound fracture of radius & had 5 operations for the removal of lead and repair to the bones.

Private Gunn was posted to No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, England on 18th December, 1915.
Private Oswald George Gunn was returned to Australian on “Suevic” from Portland on 11th March, 1916 due to G.S.W. (gunshot wound/s) to forearm. He arrived in Australia on 22nd April, 1916.

A Medical Board reviewed Private Oswald George Gunn & recorded his injury as GSW left forearm. The injury had occurred at Gallipoli on 19th May, 1915 while on Active Service. His present condition was listed as “wound healed. Function of arm good. Pronation and Supination limited. Power of hand and wrist deficient.” The Board recommended on 6th July, 1916 that Private Gunn be discharged permanently for 12 months.

Private Oswald George Gunn was discharged as Medically Unfit from the Australian Imperial Force on 9th September, 1916.

Oswald George Gunn re-enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 11th April, 1917 as a 23 year old Engineer from Haberfield, Sydney, NSW. A Medical Board found he was fit for Active Service.
He was posted to Recruits at Show Ground Camp, Sydney, NSW on 17th May, 1917.
A letter in the Service Record file written 14th July, 1917 from Dr Newton, MB, of Redcliffe, Five Dock (Sydney, NSW) reads: “I hereby certify that Mrs Gunn (mother of Private Oswald Gunn who is I believe shortly about to sail for the front) is suffering from complete nervous prostration & cardiac asthenia. I must strongly recommend that this lad’s departure be deferred for a time in the interest of his mother’s heath for I am of opinion that an additional shock to her in her present condition would result in serious consequences.”

Private Gunn was admitted to 4 A.G.H. (Australian General Hospital) on 21st July, 1917 with GSW left forearm. "In Camp wrist & hand “went stiff” & painful." A Medical Report was completed at 4th Australian General Hospital, Randwick, Sydney & his disability was recorded as an old GSW to left forearm that had occurred at Gallipoli on 19th May, 1915. NSW on 21st August, 1917. The Medical Board stated that there was a “slight weakness of left fore-arm” which was the result of active service – G.S.W. & he was ¼ incapacitated. The Board recommended that Private Gunn be discharged as permanently unfit & a Pension.

Private Oswald George Gunn was discharged as Medically Unfit not due to Misconduct on 6th September, 1917.

Oswald George Gunn re-enlisted again.... on 22nd April, 1918 as a 24 year old Fitter from Haberfield, Sydney, NSW. A Medical Board was assembled at Victoria Barracks on 22nd April, 1918 to examine Oswald George Gunn & found him fit for Active Service.

Private Oswald George Gunn embarked from Sydney, NSW on HMAT Bakara (A41) on 4th September, 1918 with the 16th General Service Reinforcements. He was appointed “Voyage Only” Corporal on embarkation on 4th September, 1918.

(Voyage Only) Corporal Oswald George Gunn was admitted to Ship’s Hospital while at Sea on 10th October, 1918 to 13th October, 1918 with Influenza. He died at 5.15 pm on 15th October, 1918 at Sea on board HMAT Bakara (A41) from Heart Failure following Pneumonia.

Corporal Oswald George Gunn was buried at Sea on 16th October, 1918. He is commemorated on the Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton, Hampshire, England as he has no grave. His death is acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

From the war diary of Stanley Carver
"Wed 16/10/1918. Poor chap died of Pneumonia at 5.45 last night. A returned man named Gunn of H16 where he was well liked.

Buried at sea this morning at 7. Service very impressive and solemn. Engines were stopped and boat moved forward with? her own way. Officers, firing party and padre in cerements? occupied the small gun deck in the stern while, strangely hushed, the lads crowded together below. The body sewn in canvas and covered with a flag was carried up. The flag was eloquent a last () honour conferred by the () of a grateful country. The service being read and the body consigned to the deep one volley was fired seeming to rend the veil of the great beyond, then the bugles waled as if in lament, again the volley, and again the wail, and then a final volley followed by the awesome and melancholy last post came like a voice decreeing that our late comrade had gone to that boune? whence no traveller returns." (Source: Find a Grave)

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
There are 168 Australian WW1 Names on the Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton, England. They have no grave.
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/g---j.html