Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Early Life
July 1897 to March 1916

Royal Victor AYNSLEY (Roy) was born at Penrith, New South Wales, Australia on the 28th of July 1897. His father, Robert William AYNSLEY was a Saddler and his mother was Sarah Margaret (or Margaret Sarah) AYNSLEY nee CHANDLER was a home maker.

Religious Denomination: Methodist (Wesleyan)

Roy’s mother died on the 8th of May 1909 when he was twelve years old.

He had 3 brothers and 2 sisters –Leslie William, Cyril Napier, Sidney Thomas, Hilda Ester and Freda Isabella.

It is likely that Roy attended the local public school at Penrith. He joined the Government Savings Bank of New South Wales on the 20th of May 1912, shortly before his 15th birthday.

At some time between joining the Bank in 1912 and late 1916, Roy moved to Katoomba where he worked in at the Government Savings Bank of NSW branch. His Father was still living in Penrith (High Street) at that time. It would seem that this was around the time that he met Minnie Mary BELL (who he would later marry). Minnie was the daughter of Genieve BELL, the owner of a boarding house named ‘St Kilda’, where it is likely that Roy stayed. In a later, war time postcard to Genieve, Roy would refer to his time at St Kilda. Also, on the back of a photo that Minnie sent to Roy while he was in Europe, she would refer to a walk the family took together on Boxing Day 1917 as starting from the same place in Leura as the first walk they went for on the Saturday night they had first met. The following is that photograph:

In the photo above, Minnie’s brother Walter BELL is wearing a pointy hat and is standing at the back, behind the right shoulder of Minnie’s & Walter’s mother, Genieve BELL, while Minnie is standing 2nd from the right. The inscription on the reverse reads: “If you remember that is the first walk we went for the Saturday night I met you. Min”

Another photo, below, has the following inscription on the reverse: “Boxing Day, Taken just in front of the shelter shed at Leura, just above those seats when you start to go down the falls”

WW1 – Enlistment in the Australian Imperial Expeditionary Force.April 1916 to March 1919 – England and France

Roy submitted his Enlistment application in the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) in April 1916.

On the 9th of June 1916 when he was 18 years old, Roy signed his attestation paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad. He was part of the 7th Reinforcements, 54th Battalion, AIF. On June 6th, 1916, Roy had undertaken a medical examination that listed his details as follows:

Age:                 18yrs 9 mths
Height:            5ft 3 ½ in (161cm)
Weight:           136lb (62kg)
Complexion:    Fresh
Chest:              32 ½ in, 34 ½ in
Eyes:                Hazel 6/10, 6/10
Hair:                Brown

Roy completed his initial army training at the Australian Imperial Expeditionary Forces No.20 Musketry School at Liverpool in October 1916

Roy completed his initial army training at the Australian Imperial Expeditionary Forces No.20 Musketry School at Liverpool in October 1916.

Roy disembarked in Davenport on 28th December 1916 and ‘Marched into’ the 14th Training Battalion in Hurdcott, Wiltshire.

Hurdcott was the site of a training facility for Australian and New Zealand troops. Roy sent a postcard to Genieve BELL (his future mother-in-law) on the 14th of January 1977 not long after he arrived and just following leave where he visited London.

"Dear Mum
Just this photo to let you know I am still thinking of the good old times I had at St Kilda with you all. This is my first note to you, but you know it is hardly worthwhile writing the same news twice. I had a good time in London. Saw many ancient and interesting places. I hope you are all well as I am at present. Except that I am suffering the effects of good ‘flash’ food I ate while on leave and also from the want of sleep. Hardly any sleep for two nights. Give my love to Min, Dot  & Wal, not to mention yourself and kind regards to Auntie Lizzii, so Au Revoir, with fond love from yours, Roy.”

The following photo shows the barracks where Roy stayed at Hurdcott. The back of the photo reads: “All Rito? in front of huts while scrubbing inside”

On the 16th of April Roy had a photo taken outside the Salisbury Cathedral. Salisbury is a few miles from Hurdcott. He is sitting with a young scout (identity unknown).

Roy was trained as a Lewis Gunner. The back of the photo below is inscribed by Roy as follows: “No.5 Group Lewis Gun School, Hurdcott, England. Love, Roy

France

France – Taken on Strength - 54th Battalion
 
On the 14th of November 1917 Roy was transported from Southampton to France as a member of the 7thReinforcements, 54th Battalion. He was taken on strength on the 22nd of November 1917.

After Roy’s arrival in France, his battalion was involved in numerous engagements between March 1918 and the end of the war in October 1918.

With the collapse of Russia in October 1917, a major German Spring Offensive[i] on the Western Front was expected in early 1918. This came in late March and the 5th Division moved to defend the sector around Corbie. The 14th Brigade took up positions to the north of Villers-Bretonneux and held these even when the village fell, threatening their flanks.

Once the German offensive had been defeated, the Allies launched their own offensive in August 1918[ii]. The 14th Brigade did not play a major role in these operations until late in the month[iii], but its actions, including those of the 54th Battalion at Anvil Wood, were critical to the capture of Peronne[iv], which fell on 2 September.

Attack at Anvil Wood

Anvil Wood was a small wood to the north of Peronne that marked the centre-line of an attack by the 14th Brigade on the morning of 1 September 1918. The northern approaches to Peronne were covered by numerous field and machine-guns, but the leading battalions of the brigade - the 53rd and 54th - pushed their attack home with determination, and sent the German defenders fleeing back to Peronne. The attack opened the way for the 14th Brigade to advance on to Peronne itself and break into the town's northern defenses.

Roy was wounded in action on the 1st of September 1918 during the attack on Peronne and the Anvil Wood engagement. He was shot in the hand and the right leg. Roy was admitted to an ‘L of C’ (Line of Command?) field hospital on the 2nd of September and had the bullet removed.

He was then invalided to England on the 5th of September and admitted to the 3rd West General Hospital for recovery on 6th of September.

He took a furlo in London from the 12th to 28th of November 1918, by which time the war had ended and departed Liverpool aboard the HMAT Nestor on the 12th of December.

Roy arrived in Sydney on the 14th of February 1919. He attended the Garrison Hospital at Victoria Barracks on the 18th of February 1919. 

Back to civilian life
March 1919 to March 1922

Roy was discharged from the Australian Imperial Expeditionary Force with the Rank of Corporal on the 20th of March, 1919.

This photo was taken in March 1919 and on the back reads (in Roy’s hand writing):
‘His first civies’

On discharge there is a record of him availing of a free return train ticket to Parkes, in the central west of New South Wales, but no reason as to why. However, it is possible he was visiting Minnie BELL who was a nurse during those years.

Records are scant during this period but it is known that Roy resumed his career at the Government Savings bank of NSW and was back in Katoomba at the time he married Minnie BELL on the 22nd of March 1922