YORK, Rex Bernard
| Service Numbers: | 2181, N60392 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 30 March 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 34th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | WEE WAA, NSW, 29 May 1892 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Singleton War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 2181, 34th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 2181, 34th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Sydney |
World War 2 Service
| 30 Mar 1940: | Enlisted N60392 |
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Help us honour Rex Bernard York's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Aubrey Bairstow
Rex Bernard York from Maitland was a 21 year old storeman when he enlisted in the AIF in April 1916. He stated that he had 3 years prior militia service.
He embarked from Sydney in August and arrived in England in October 1916. The 34th crossed to France on 22 November, and moved into the trenches of the Western Front for the first time on 27 November, just in time for the onset of the terrible winter of 1916-17. The 34th Battalion had to wait until mid-1917 to take part in its first major battle; this was the battle of Messines, launched on 7 June. Rex was promoted to Sergeant on 20 June.
Rex was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant on 30 August 1917. After several stints in the trenches, and a period of rest and training, the battalion entered battle again on 12 October around Passchendaele. The battle ended in a disastrous defeat, and over 50 per cent casualties for the 34th. By December he was a full Lieutenant.
The unit war diary states that he was wounded in action during the bombardment at WALLY SUPPORT at Bas-Warneton on 2 March 1918. His file states that he sustained a gun shot wound to his leg which was deemed severe. He was returned to Australia in August 1918. In the interwar period he served in the militia including the Hunter River Lancers.
During World War Two Rex served as a Captain in the CMF. He enlisted in 1940 as a Lieutenant from the reserve of officers and was later promoted to Captain. He served with the Australian Army Ordnance Corps however was discharged to the retired list in February 1943 with neurosis. Any WW2 medal entitlement was unclaimed. He died in 1968.
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