KINGSMILL, Colin
| Service Number: | 7400 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 9 August 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 4th Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Gunnedah, New South Wales, October 1891 |
| Home Town: | Albury, Albury Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Bank Clerk |
| Died: | Natural causes, Wahroonga, New South Wales, 2 December 1964 |
| Cemetery: |
Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, NSW Cremated - Memorial Plaque, East Terrace, Area 3, Wall 19. |
| Memorials: | Albury Grammar School Honour Roll, Albury St. Matthew's Anglican Church War Memorial, Commercial Banking Company of Sydney WW1 Honour Roll |
Biography contributed by Michael Silver
Colin Kingsmill was the third of four sons born to the Clerk of Petty Sessions at Gunnedah Court House, John Johnson Kingsmill and wife Amy during their time in Gunnedah, New South Wales during the 1880s and 90s.
All four boys served with distinction in World War 1.
The Kingsmill family left Gunnedah in the late 1890s when JJ Kimgsmill took up an appointment at Muswellbrook. In 1907 he was transferred to Albury from where Colin Kingsmill enlisted for military service in August 1915, two months before his 24 birthday.
Leaving Australia in November, 1915 in HMAT A34 'Persic' with the 5th Field Artillery Brigade, Colin Kingsmill arrived in Suez on December 21, 1915. After training in Egypt he was transferred to France in March 1916.
He quickly rose through the ranks, showing initiative and drive. Mentioned in despatches in November 1916, he was appointed Second Lieutenant - rising to Lieutenant in May 1917.
In November 1917 he was severely gassed and treated in England for several months before returning to action in Belgium.
Following the war, Colin Kingsmill remained in England undertaking business training. He returned to Australia in the 'Cape Verde' in early 1920. He joined the rural co-operative GRAZCOS, becoming Chief Accountant. He retired early due to ill-health and died at Wahroongah, New South Wales on December 2, 1964, aged 73.
Tragically his eldest brother, Major Horace Frederick Kingsmill DSO was killed in action in August 1917. The other two siblings, Lt Nigel Kingsmill MC and Lt Kenneth Kingsmill both survived the war.
Credit: RG McLean
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