Urmston Burney Alexander NAYLOR

NAYLOR, Urmston Burney Alexander

Service Number: 386
Enlisted: 25 August 1914, Lieutenant in the old Military Forces.
Last Rank: Company Sergeant Major
Last Unit: 52nd Infantry Battalion
Born: Punjal, India, July 1882
Home Town: Penguin, Central Coast, Tasmania
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Farmer
Died: Gassed, Belgium, 16 October 1917
Cemetery: The Huts Cemetery, ​Dickebusch, Belgium
Plot X, Row C, Grave No. 17
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Penguin to the Great War
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World War 1 Service

25 Aug 1914: Enlisted AIF WW1, Corporal, 386, 12th Infantry Battalion, Lieutenant in the old Military Forces.
20 Oct 1914: Involvement Corporal, 386, 12th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Hobart embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: ''
20 Oct 1914: Embarked Corporal, 386, 12th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Hobart
18 Dec 1915: Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 12th Infantry Battalion
4 Mar 1916: Transferred AIF WW1, Sergeant, 52nd Infantry Battalion
20 May 1916: Promoted AIF WW1, Company Sergeant Major, 52nd Infantry Battalion, Warrant Officer Class 2, AIF WW1
14 Oct 1917: Wounded AIF WW1, Company Sergeant Major, 386, 52nd Infantry Battalion, 1st Passchendaele, Gassed - DoW

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Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

Urmston Naylor was the oldest of six sons of the late Mr. Henry Naylor, of Penguin, Tasmania, a retired Indian civil servant, who all volunteered for active service, and went to the front. He was the second of three of the brothers who died during the Great War.

Urmston served right through the whole Gallipoli campaign with the 12th Battalion, apart from being evacuated with dysentery for some weeks. He was promoted to Sergeant during this time. He transferred to the 52nd Battalion during the reorganization of the AIF in early 1916, and was made a Company Sergeant Major. He was very badly gassed near Ypres on the 14 October 1917, and died in an Australian Field Ambulance two days later.

The North Western Advocate reported during November 1917, under the heading ‘A FIGHTING FAMILY’

“Quite a gloom was cast over Penguin when it became known that the relatives had been advised that Company Sergeant-Major Urmston Naylor had died of wounds on Oct. 16. Sergt. Major Naylor with his three brothers were amongst the first to enlist from Penguin. They subsequently took part in the Gallipoli landing, and went through the whole campaign and evacuation. They were then transferred to France, and, with the exception of 10 days' furlough, have been 'at it' since the commencement. Two more brothers enlisted later-one of whom (Ben) has since made the supreme sacrifice Thus, the whole family of six boys have been doing service for their country, a fact which the district is deservedly proud. One brother (Ira) has returned and is now discharged. The sincere sympathy of the community goes out to the relatives of this soldier family.”

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