Roy Alexander John SINCLAIR

SINCLAIR, Roy Alexander John

Service Numbers: 2614, S31570
Enlisted: 16 February 1916, Adelaide, South Australia
Last Rank: Warrant Officer Class 2
Last Unit: 4 Australian Veterinary Hospital
Born: Sandwell, South Australia, 3 February 1896
Home Town: Prospect, Prospect, South Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Farmer
Died: Unknown, South Australia, 2 February 1981, aged 84 years
Cemetery: Not yet discovered
Memorials: Norwood Primary School Honour Board
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World War 1 Service

16 Feb 1916: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2614, Adelaide, South Australia
23 Oct 1916: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2614, 50th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Port Melbourne, Adelaide
23 Oct 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2614, 50th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Melbourne embarkation_ship_number: A16 public_note: ''
8 Apr 1918: Wounded Private, 2614, 50th Infantry Battalion, Villers-Bretonneux, GSW (foot)
7 Sep 1919: Discharged AIF WW1, Corporal, 2614, 50th Infantry Battalion

World War 2 Service

9 Nov 1940: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Warrant Officer Class 1, S31570
9 Nov 1940: Enlisted Private, S31570, Adelaide, South Australia
10 Nov 1940: Involvement Private, S31570
30 Aug 1945: Discharged Warrant Officer Class 2, S31570, 4 Australian Veterinary Hospital

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Biography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School

Roy Alexander John Sinclair was a farmer born on the 3rd of February 1896 in Sandwell, South Australia. He was born to Mrs Eliza Mary Sinclair and lived happily on his family's farm. Three years before he volunteered to fight in World War I, he trained as a sea cadet for 3 years until the age of 20, when he enlisted as a private in the 50th Battalion. He was described as having a medium complexion, brown eyes, and wavy hair. He stood at 5 feet and 9 inches tall, which was considerably tall for the time. His unit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A16 Port Melbourne on the 23rd of October 1916 for Devonport, England.

His service number was 2614 and he fought in the 50th Battalion.

Roy departed Adelaide on His Majesty’s Australian Transport (HMAT) from Melbourne on 23 October 1916. Roy was bound for England where he would be sent to training camps along with the rest of his battalion to be given basic military training, including the use of rifles and guns.

The journey to England was busy for Roy and the other soldiers as officers were organising rigorous exercise and training during the boat trip. They were also expected to do their washing, sweep the decks, and carry out other chores. To alleviate boredom, sports carnivals were held with boxing matches, pillow fights and wheelbarrow races.

After his arrival where he endured more vigorous training in Devonport, the 50th battalion set sail once again, to France. After arriving they participated in the advance that followed the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line and attacked at Noreuil on the 2nd of April 1917. Later that year the focus of the Australian Imperial Forces operations moved to the Ypres sector in Belgium. There the battalion was involved in the battle of Messines between the 7th and 12th of June 1917 and the battle of Polygon Wood on the 26th of September 1917.

The next year the 50th Battalion was still fighting. In the Battle of the Lys also known as the Fourth Battle of Ypres, Roy Alexander John Sinclair was shot in both legs and the left foot by an enemy soldier.  He was admitted to the Ontario Military Hospital, Orpington, on the 8th of April, before being transferred to the Dartford Hospital on the 17th of April. He did, however, end up continuing to fight after his recovery and then eventually returned to Australia on the 7th of September 1919. However, he did not return as a private. Roy Alexander John Sinclair returned to Australia as a Corporal.

It was also found that Roy was awarded two medals due to his time in the army. The British war medal was given to him due to his service and was awarded to every man and woman who assisted in the war. Roy was also awarded the victory medal when he returned home, this medal was for his active theatre of military operations between the 5th of August 1914 and the 11th of November 1918. It was given to commemorate his sacrifice and service.

Roy Alexander John Sinclair died of natural causes on the 2nd of February 1981 at the age of 84 in South Australia.

Lest We Forget.

 

Bibliography

https://vwma.org.au/explore/projects/117925/edit

https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/210538125?keyword=roy%20alexander%20john%20sinclair

https://sarcib.ww1.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/soldier/roy-alexander-john-sinclair

https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search?query=SINCLAIR%2C+Roy+Alexander+John

https://app.memories.net/memorials/royalexanderjohn-sinclair-45738

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