Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From: In Remembrance: Hungerford and Associated Families in the Great War 1914-1918

Regimental Number: 806
Unit Name: 20th Battalion, C Company

Religion: Church of England
Occupation: Clerk
Address: The Parade, Enfield, NSW
Age at Enlistment: 20 years and 11 months
Enlistment Date and Place: 20 March 1915, Liverpool, NSW
Next of Kin: Mother, Mrs. Emma Ann Bancroft, The Parade, Enfield, NSW
Rank on Enlistment: Sergeant
Embarkation Details: Unit embarked from Sydney, NSW, on board HMAT A35 Berrima, on
25 June 1915
Rank from Nominal Roll: Lieutenant
Unit from Nominal Roll: 20th Battalion
Campaigns Served: Belgium; France
War Service/Promotions: Promoted to Sergeant 21 May 1915. Hospitalised at Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt, 4 September 1915, on HS Salta, then transferred to No.1 Australian General Hospital, 6 September 1915, with a nervous breakdown; then by hospital ship, to Mudros (on the island of Lemnos in the Aegean Sea near Gallipoli). Treated for appendicitis, 30 November 1915. Discharged to OS Base, Giza, Egypt - Fit for Active service 5 December 1915. He was Taken on Strength, Ghezireh, Egypt, on 8 December 1915. Placed on Supernumerary list of N.C.O.'s in accordance with AIF Order No.16, on 15 October 1915. Absent from battalion sick since 4 September 1915. On 1 November 1916 on supernumerary list of Non Commissioned Officers (NCO) at Mudros. Qualified at the First Rifle Course held at School of Musketry, Tidworth, Wiltshire, England, from 19 April 1916 to 9 August 1916. He was posted overseas to reinforce the 20th Battalion on 30 September 1916. Proceeded to Etaples, France, from Southampton, England, on 2 October 1916. Rejoined Battalion from Hospital in the Field, 28 October 1916. To hospital sick in the Field, 9 November 1916. Rejoined 20th Battalion from hospital 22 November 1916. Promoted to Company Sergeant Major (CSM) in France, 13 December 1916. Transferred to Supernumerary list, 20th Battalion, proceeding to Officers Signalling Corps, England on 1 April 1917. CSM on Command at Officers Cadet Battalion, No.2, Cambridge, England, on 7 April 1917. He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and posted to General Infantry Reinforcements, England, 3 August 1917. On 18 August 1917 proceeded to France, from Southampton arriving at Le Havre, France, on 20 August 1917. On 23 August 1917, Taken on Strength, 20th Battalion, from Officers Cadet Battalion. Wounded at Passchendaele, Belgium, 8 October 1917. Admitted to 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, England, 11 October 1917, with gunshot wound to left wrist and hand. As a result of his injury his hand was amputated. On 1 December 1917 promoted to Lieutenant. From 7 February 1918 to 9 March 1918 on leave, waiting at military base for transport to Australia. On 26 March 1918 Struck off Strength, 20th Battalion. His appointment was terminated 12 November 1918.
Place of Wounding: Gunshot wound, left hand, with his hand being amputated, 7 October 1917, Passchendaele, Belgium.
Fate: Returned to Australia per RMS Orontes, 10 March 1918. He married (1) Dorothy Withers Ewbank, 6 April 1921, St Peter's Church of England, Burwood, NSW. They divorced. He re-married
(2) Maude Simpson, 24 December 1932, Chalmers Presbyterian Church, Sydney, NSW. They divorced. He re-married (3) Gladys May Smith, 1943, NSW.
Lieutenant Herbert John Bancroft served in the Army between the wars, and was enlisted in the 4th Salvage Unit, 23 June 1944, Regimental number N 274777.

Place of Death: 31 October 1962, Bathurst, NSW
Place of Burial: Holy Trinity Anglican Church Cemetery, Kelso, Bathurst, NSW

Medals/Citations: 1914/15 Star; British War Medal; Victory Medal