S6923
PAWSON, Sidney
| Service Numbers: | 3606, S66699, S67809 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 July 1915, at Adelaide |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 1st (SA) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) |
| Born: | Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England, 15 February 1895 |
| Home Town: | Grange, City of Charles Sturt / Henley and Grange, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer; later Linesman P.M.G |
| Died: | 22 April 1983, aged 88 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Wandearah East Broughton Plains Region War Memorial, Wandearah East Hundred of Pirie Roll of Honour WW1 |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3606, 32nd Infantry Battalion, at Adelaide | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 3606, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Ballarat embarkation_ship_number: A70 public_note: '' | |
| 12 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 3606, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ballarat, Adelaide |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Private, S66699, 1st (SA) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 Mar 1942: | Involvement Corporal, S67809, 1st (SA) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) | |
| 31 Mar 1942: | Enlisted Adelaide, SA | |
| 13 Jul 1944: | Discharged |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School
Born to Mrs Olive Pawson on the 15th of February 1895 in Lincolnshire (Grimsby), England. Sidney Pawson (also goes by Sydney) was a single labourer living in Australia when he enlisted on the 17th of August 1915 at age 21 and 5 months.
Before enlisting he lived in his hometown Grange (City of Charles Sturt / Henley and Grange), South Australia, however, did not receive his certificate for entry to Secondary School, nor university degree or other diplomas. The same year that Pawson enlisted he had to have surgery on his left knee to remove cartilage, but this occurred before his enlistment.
He was considerably short compared to the average height for males at this time. Whilst the average height was approximately 5"8, Pawson's height changed from 5"2 1/4 in 1915 to 5"3 in 1942. Both of these are under the average, but it is shown that he grew between the ages of 21 and 42. He had brown hair and hazel/grey eyes. His complexion was fair, but at times described at medium.
On the 12th of August Sidney Pawson embarked on board HMAT A70 Ballarat from Adelaide to England. This was to be his first fight in war, and he was to do it in the 32nd Battalion in the role of a Private.
Pawson was wounded (gassed) on the 15th of February 1917 while his unit (the 32nd battalion) was relieving the 57th battalion on the Front-Line System, but it was apparently not a severe injury as he seemed to go back into action almost immediately afterward, and later on stated that his only severe injury was his injury to his knee before his enrolment in 1915.
He was married in 1918 to Mrs Celina Lucy Gladys Pawson, his first and only wife. Only a year later he was discharged, on the 15th of August 1919. This happened because he suffered from gas poisoning.
After the war Sidney Pawson became a linesman working for P.M.G. He then went back to the military on the 31st of March 1942 at the age of 42, which was considered quite old at that time. His documents show that he was in good physical form, especially for someone of the age 42. This time he upgraded from private in the 32nd battalion to corporal in the 1st battalion Volunteer Defence Corps, again for Australia.
He was discharged from this position on the 2nd of June 1943.
Pawson's religious denomination was Methodist as of the 12th of October 1915, however in 1942 he identified as Anglican. Whilst these religions were once connected, this shows that at one point between these years he converted between religions.
Sidney Pawson passed away on the 22nd of April in 1983 at the age of 88 for apparently unknown reasons. He left his property and belongings to his wife; however, it is unknown but likely if the couple had children. He now rests in Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia and has a memorial in the Wandearah East Broughton Plains Region War Memorial.