Henry Evans Banfield

Private Henry Banfield (Service no. 2107) was born in Bega and at the time of his enlistment was a 27 year old accountant. He embarked on HMAT A8 Argyllshire on 30th September, 1915 with 4th Reinforcements 20th Battalion.

Arriving on Gallipoli with D coy on 18th November, 1915 Henry remained until the evacuation. He went to France and was wounded in action with shell shock on 26th May, 1916. He recovered and in January 1917 he was sent to Officer School. On 1st May, 1917 he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and on 10th October again promoted to Lieutenant.

In August 1918 Henry was engaged in the battle for Mont St Quentin and Peronne, and on 7th September he was recommended for the Military Cross. The citation reads; During operations at Mont St Quentin, near Peronne on 31st August, 1918 he displayed great gallantry and remarkable resources in obtaining information, repeatedly crossing the river under the concentrated fire of many guns. The information he collected was most valuable and enabled suitable dispositions to be made against hostile counter attacks. His courage and coolness were of a very high order. - Commonwealth Gazette 3 June 1919.

The Australian attack on Mont St Quentin has become legendary in military history. Henry returned to Australia in April 1919 and was discharged on 3rd August, 1919 as an honorary Captain. After the war Henry transferred from the Postmaster Generals Department to the Bureau of Meteorology in Sydney. After time in Brisbane and Melbourne he took up a position in Adelaide in 1938.

In the Second World War Henry served in the RAAF Meteorological Service. He was regional director, Bureau of Meteorology in Tasmania and then regional director in South Australia from 1948 to1952. On 25th March, 1933 Henry married Dorothea Belschner at Chatswood. Henry's parents lived in Port Kembla.