WYMARK, Reginald Douglas
| Service Number: | 789 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 July 1915, Liverpool, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 30th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Westbourne Park, London, England, 2 June 1895 |
| Home Town: | Goulburn, Goulburn Mulwaree, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Jeweller, Farm/Station Hand |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 20 July 1916, aged 21 years |
| Cemetery: |
VC Corner Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles, France No known grave - Panel 2, VC Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles, Lille, Nord Pas de Calais, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 789, Liverpool, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 789, 30th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Beltana embarkation_ship_number: A72 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Nov 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 789, 30th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Beltana, Sydney | |
| 20 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 789, 30th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 789 awm_unit: 30th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1916-07-20 |
Reginald Douglas WYMARK
It has been a great privilege to research my grandfathers brother, Reginald Douglas WYMARK. A tough life was to be had for Reginald, the second youngest of eight children born to Thomas WYMARK and his third wife Marie Adela Wilhelmina RIETZ. During his tough life, Reginald displayed great strength, kindness and positive attitude.
Reginalds father, Thomas was English born master mariner and ship owner and sixty-five years of age when he married seventeen year old Marie Adela in Danzig, West Prussia. The family settled at Chelsea, London England and when Reginald was three years of age, three of his siblings died. A month later his father also died, leaving Marie Adela to hold the family together during the saddest of times.
With a heavy heart, Marie was forced to split the family. The youngest children, Lily, Samuel Walter and Mabel were placed into homes in London. Reginald spent some years at Bethnal Green Home for Children as Marie Adela and oldest daughter, Lucy worked hard to make ends meet. Marie worked as an estate agent and managed to keep the family together by visiting as often as she could.
As Reginald and his siblings became working adults, they became a family once again. Marie Adela was their much loved and adored mother, and good times were enjoyed by the now inseparable family. My grandfather, Samuel was the first to come to Australia and the others followed.
Reginald worked as station hand for Mrs Walmsley at Goulbourn NSW when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in 1915. He was twenty-one years of age at that time. Letters written to his sister Lil, from the army camp at Liverpool NSW, stated that she must not worry about him, and that the battalion band gave him enjoyment and comfort. He signed off his letters, that were written in back hand, ta-ta for the present.
Sadly Reginald, or Reggie as he is known in my family, went missing in action at Fromelles, France, on the early hours of July 20 1916. Letters were sent to Red Cross in the hope that he may have survived somehow, but it was not to be.
Always remembered Reggie,
Ta-ta for the present.
Lest we forget.
Submitted 16 March 2016 by Jan Fitzgerald
Biography
My Great Uncle Reginald Douglas Wymark was killed in action and missing at the Battle of Fromelles. He was only 21 years old and was never found but was not forgotten. - Susan La Roche
"...789 Lance Corporal (L Cpl) Reginald Douglas Wymark, 30th Battalion. Born in London, England, L Cpl Wymark came to Australia as an 18 year old with his mother and sister Mabel. He trained as a jeweller and had worked as a farmer and station hand in Queensland before enlisting in Sydney, NSW, in July 1915 and embarking with C Company, 30th Battalion, on HMAT Beltana on 9 November 1915. L Cpl Wymark was killed during the Australian advance on Fleurbaix on 20 July 1916. He was 21 years old." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)
Father died on 30 May 1898 in London, UK. His mother remarried and became Marie A. W. Goodwin
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
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