WAINWRIGHT, Joseph
| Service Number: | 19691 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 May 1917, Ipswich, Qld. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 52nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Manchester, England, 29 March 1900 |
| Home Town: | Ipswich, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Wattle Brae Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 17 September 1917, aged 17 years |
| Cemetery: |
Ipswich General Cemetery, Qld C.E. A. A964. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Howard War Memorial, Ipswich Soldier's Memorial Hall Great War, Torbanlea State School Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 18 May 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 19691, 52nd Infantry Battalion, Ipswich, Qld. | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Sep 1917: | Involvement Private, 19691, 52nd Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 19691 awm_unit: 52nd Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1917-09-17 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Mr. and Mrs. A. WAINWRIGHT, of Liverpool Estate, North Ipswich.
DEATH OF PRIVATE JOSEPH WAINWRIGHT
The mortal remains of Private Joseph Wainwright (son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Wainwright, of Liverpool Estate, North Ipswich) were interred in the Ipswich Cemetery. The deceased soldier had been in camp about three months and he was accorded a full military funeral. The cortege was a large one, and was headed by a firing party from the A.I.F. camp, in Brisbane. The District Guard Band followed the firing party, and played the 'Dead March' in "Saul" on the way to the cemetery. A number of soldiers from the same battalion as their late comrade showed their respect for him by marching in front of the hearse, six of these men acting as pall-bearers. Representatives of the Returned Soldiers' Association and of St. Thomas's Church were also present. The coffin was covered with the folds of the Union Jack, and a large number of wreaths from sympathetic friends, covered the grave. Three volleys were fired by the firing party, and the ''Last Post' was sounded by Q.M.S. Peel, who was in charge of the firing party. Among the wreaths was one from the Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' Association, and one from the non-commissioned officers and men of the deceased's battalion The deceased was 18 years of age. He had only been ailing since Wednesday of last week. Two brothers, three sisters and his tmother and father are left to mourn the loss of their brother and son.
Biography contributed by Ian Lang
#19691 Joseph WAINWRIGHT 52nd Battalion
Joe Wainwright was the son of Abel and Elizabeth Wainwright, born in Manchester, England on 29th March 1900. Joe was the youngest of five children. In 1906, the family emigrated to Australia as assisted immigrants, sailing on the Royal Mail Steamer “Ormuz.” The ship’s passenger list shows Abel Wainwright, aged 47, and his wife, aged 50; Joseph is shown as aged 6.
The family may have initially settled in Howard where the younger children, Louisa and Joe attended school. It is quite possible that Abel had experience in coalmining in England and he was able to gain employment in mining on the Burrum coalfields. At some time prior to Joe’s enlistment, the family moved to the Tivoli area on the Ipswich coal fields where Joe and perhaps his older brother, John, and his father all worked as miners.
Joe Wainwright presented himself for enlistment at Ipswich on 18th May 1917. He stated his age as 18 years and two months, and brought with him a signed note from his parents giving their permission for him to enlist. If the date of birth quoted here is correct, then Joe was in fact only 17 years and two months. Joe’s occupation is listed as miner. He named his father, Abel Wainwright of Liverpool Estate, Tivoli as his next of kin. His medical exam at the recruiting office recorded his height as 5’4”, the minimum height for acceptance and his weight as 126 lbs.
Joe was accepted into a training depot battalion at Enoggera where he was placed with the reinforcements for the 52nd Battalion. On 26th July, Joe presented to the Camp Medical Officer who recorded that Joe was thin and poorly nourished, displaying a poor physique. Such a condition may well have been due to his early life in Manchester where he was exposed to dirty air and poor sanitation. It may also go some way to explain the reason for the family’s emigration.
Regardless of the army’s concern over Joe’s slight build, he was granted 2 days home leave prior to embarkation in late August. After returning from leave, Joe reported sick. As his condition deteriorated, he was admitted to the infectious diseases ward at Brisbane General Hospital. Elizabeth Wainwright came down to Brisbane from Ipswich to be with her son when he died on 17th September 1917 from Cerebro Spinal Meningitis. Elizabeth escorted her son’s body home to Ipswich where he was buried in the Ipswich General Cemetery.
The citizens of Howard, when compiling the list of fallen men made a special effort in honouring Joseph Wainwright by adding the descriptor -died in camp, to his name.