RAINBOW, Oscar Allan
| Service Number: | 212 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 September 1914, Enlisted at Sydney, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 13th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Darlington, New South Wales, Australia, 28 April 1890 |
| Home Town: | Marrickville, Marrickville, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Sydney High School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Accountant |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Gallipoli, 4 May 1915, aged 25 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Panel 36, Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Lone Pine Memorial to the Missing |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 212, 13th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Sydney, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct 1914: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 13th Infantry Battalion, Prior to embarking | |
| 22 Dec 1914: | Involvement Corporal, 212, 13th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Dec 1914: | Embarked Corporal, 212, 13th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 212, 13th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 4 May 1915: | Involvement 212, 13th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 212 awm_unit: 13 Battalion awm_rank: Lance Sergeant awm_died_date: 1915-05-04 |
Help us honour Oscar Allan Rainbow's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Carol Foster
Son of William Joseph and Arriette Rainbow of Day Street, Marrickville, NSW. Brother of William Alfred Rainbow of Sydney, NSW
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Also served in the senior cadets
Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Oscar Allan Rainbow’s father, William Joseph, was a famous entomologist and arachnologist whose work includes the first catalogue of Australian spiders. He worked at the Australian Museum in Sydney.
The Sydney Sunday Times printed the following during August 1915, under the heading, ‘Gallipoli Hero’
Mr. W. H. Rainbow, of Marrickville, has received the following letter from Sergeant E. P. Kelleher, Alexandria, describing the heroic death of his son, Sergeant Rainbow, at Gallipoli: "You will, doubtless, have been informed of the death of your son and my friend, Sergeant Rainbow, but the manner of his death has perhaps not been described to you. “A live shell fell into the trenches and threatened death to all. Without hesitation your son gave his life for his comrades, by throwing the shell far from the trench, but at the cost of his own life. He exposed himself, and was immediately riddled with bullets. Deeds less brave have won the V.C. Your boy was a universal favourite, and his cheery manner was only exceeded by his keenness for duty. Your grief will, perhaps, be assuaged by the knowledge that Australia's roll of glory is the brighter by the addition of his name.”
His elder brother noted on his roll of honour circular, “Believed to be the first man from Marrickville to fall in this war.”
Oscar’s mother was reported by the family as suffering from shock and nervous breakdown after the death of her son. She passed away in June 1917.
Oscar’s brother, 54035 Sergeant Eric Charles Hedley Rainbow 33rd Battalion AIF, returned to Australia during October 1919.
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