![Badge Number: S8689, Sub Branch: Berri Badge Number: S8689, Sub Branch: Berri](/assets/rsl-logo-a4b14361c1f1ab7c8fabf313a57505e8d1a3521788e2e18940fec8c10a50db21.png)
S8689
GRASBY, Cecil Gordon
Service Number: | 5579 |
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Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
Last Rank: | Private |
Last Unit: | 27th Infantry Battalion |
Born: | Not yet discovered |
Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
Memorials: | Balhannah Old Scholars Roll of Honor, Balhannah Soldiers' Memorial Honor Roll, Woodside District of Onkaparinga Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
12 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 5579, 27th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Ballarat embarkation_ship_number: A70 public_note: '' | |
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12 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 5579, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ballarat, Adelaide | |
Date unknown: | Wounded 5579, 27th Infantry Battalion |
Cecil Grasby
Name: Cecil Gordon Grasby
Service Number: 5579
Place of Birth: Glengyle/ Balhannah
Date of Birth: 9 August 1897
Place of Enlistment: Adelaide
Date of Enlistment: 10 May 1916
Age at Enlistment: 18 years 8 months
Next of Kin: Father, Joseph Cotton Grasby
Occupation: Gardener
Religion: Methodist
Rank: Private
Cecil was initially rejected by the A.I.F. because of his poor teeth. Upon joining the 50th Battalion he embarked the A 68 Anchises on 28 August 1916 and with his unit proceeded to France on 18 December. Cecil was wounded in action in France when gassed on 4 May 1916 and simultaneously sustained a severe wound to his left leg necessitating treatment in England on 27 December1917. He rejoined his unit in France on 1 January 1918. Cecil was wounded on a second occasion during action in France on 11 August when he was shot in the right shoulder. This resulted in him being invalided to England on 14 August and returned to Australia on the A 68 Anchises on 28 August 1919, being discharged on 22 December.
Interestingly Cecil’s wife wrote to the Army on 20 April 1933 alerting them to the erratic and violent behavior of her husband.
Submitted 22 October 2023 by christopher collins