WELLER, Richard
| Service Number: | 278 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 August 1914, Enlisted at Broadmeadows, Victoria. Allocated to B Company of 8th Infantry Bn. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 8th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Footscray, Victoria, Australia , 1884 |
| Home Town: | Footscray, Maribyrnong, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Cook |
| Died: | Sydney Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 25 July 1924, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Rookwood Cemeteries & Crematorium, New South Wales Zone C, Section H, Grave 6181 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 19 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 278, 8th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Broadmeadows, Victoria. Allocated to B Company of 8th Infantry Bn. | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 278, 8th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Melbourne | |
| 19 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 278, 8th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 278, 8th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, Sustained gunshot wound to right hand while in a firing position, causing immobilisation of 3 fingers. | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 278, 8th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, In second wave to go ashore during the landing of the AIF at Gallipoli. | |
| 15 Aug 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 278, 8th Infantry Battalion, Embarked in Suez aboard HMAT Themistocles for return to Australia. Disembarked in Melbourne on 9th September. | |
| 20 Feb 1916: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 278, 8th Infantry Battalion, Discharged in the 3rd Military District, Melbourne, as being permanently unfit for further service, due to paralysis of 3 fingers on right hand, following gunshot wound. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS
Richard WELLER was born in Melbourne, Victoria in 1881 to parents Mary Jane (nee SALTMARSH) and George WELLER.
A 33 year old single cook living in Footscray at the time, Richard enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in Broadmeadows, Victoria, on 19th August 1914, putting his age down by three years. He was assigned as a Private, regimental number 278. Following completion of his recruit training at the Broadmeadows Camp, he was allocated to B Company of the 8th Infantry Battalion. On 19th October 1914, Richard embarked with his Unit in Melbourne aboard HMAT Benalla for active service overseas.
The 8th Australian Infantry Battalion disembarked in Alexandria, Egypt, on 8th December 1914, and proceeded to Mena Camp, near Cairo. They commenced intensive training in Company, then Battalion formation, until 3rd January 1915, when they were ordered to Ismailia. There, they were involved in further training exercises with the rest of the 2nd Infantry Brigade. On 4th April 1915, the 8th Battalion returned to Alexandria, departing four days later aboard HMAT Clan McGillivray bound for Mudros Harbour, on the Greek island of Lemnos. There, they conducted disembarking drills from the troop transport ship, into small boats.
About 5.45am on Sunday 25th April 1915, the 8th Infantry Battalion were part of the second wave of the Australian Imperial Force to land at Gaba Tepe, on the Turkish peninsula of Gallipoli. An extract from the Unit War Diary describes the day of the landing thus, "During the whole day, we were subjected to a very acute and searching artillery fire, which inflicted considerable loss". The Battalion casualties at the end of the day were reported as 12 Officers and 200 Other Ranks.
On that 25th April, Richard was in a firing position on the beach during the advance, when his right hand was struck by a bullet. He was eventually given first aid by the No. 1 Australian Casualty Clearing Station following their hasty deployment on the beach, and subsequently transported back to Egypt. On 30th April, Richard was admitted to the No. 1 Australian General Hospital in Heliopolis, but transferred to No. 2 General Hospital in Mena, Cairo on 1st May. By 6th June, Richard's wounds had healed sufficiently to be transferred to the Convalescent Camp at Mustapha, near Alexandria. Nine days later, he was admitted to the No. 17 (British) General Hospital in Alexandria.
Richard was again transferred on 23rd June, to the Hospital at Glymenopoulo, also near Alexandria. He returned to the Mustapha Convalescent Camp on 14th July. By this time, it was apparent that Richard would not regain the full use of his right hand, with three fingers being paralysed, and the examining Medical Officer on that date recommended that Richard be discharged. On 29th July, following a Medical Board in Helouan, it was decided that Richard would be invalided home.
On 15th August 1915, Richard embarked in Suez aboard HMAT Themistocles for return to Australia, arriving in Melbourne on 9th September. Following a Medical Board examination at Melbourne Hospital, he was subsequently discharged as being permanently unfit for further service, in the 3rd Military District, Melbourne, on 20th February 1916. Richard was later awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service, as well as Silver War Badge number A12545, and the Discharged Returned Soldier's Badge.
Richard WELLER died in Sydney Hospital on 25th July 1924, and was buried in Rookwood Cemetery, Lidcombe (NSW), three days later. He was 43 years old.
Compiled by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS from historical records kept by the National Archives of Australia (Service Record & Silver War Badge Register, Book 121, p. 158); Australian War Memorial (8th Infantry Bn Unit War Diaries); Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria; Ryerson Index; and Find A Grave.