Richard Rawson

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Tue, 28/06/2016 - 13:50

First Name:

Richard

Last Name:

Rawson

Mother's Name:

Catherine Rawson nee Jones

Father's Name:

Alexander Rawson

Date Enlisted:

Saturday, September 11, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

20th Battalion

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Sunday, April 27, 1930

Place of Death:

Bulli, N.S.W.

Details:

Richard Rawson (Service No 3865) was born in Denbighshire, Wales around 1879 and arrived in Australia some time after 1911.

At enlistment Richard was single, 35 years old, worked as a signal fitter, and lived at Bulli, N.S.W.

He embarked from Sydney on HMAT A54 Runic with 9th Reinforcements, 20th Battalion, on 20th January 1916. The troops arrived in Egypt on 26th February 1916 and Richard was sent on to France with 20th Battalion, arriving there on 25th March 1916.

He saw service on the Western Front until 7th September 1916 when he was admitted to hospital in Belgium with bronchitis. He returned to his unit on 24th September 1916.

On 20th November 1916 he was admitted to hospital in France for treatment of trench feet. This was the end of his war as on 1st January 1917 while recovering he suffered an accidental injury to his knee. He appeared before a medical board in England on 18th June 1917 and was deemed unfit for active service.

Richard was returned to Australia in August 1917 and after further treatment in Australia was discharged medically unfit on 2nd February 1918.

On 18th August 1922 he married Jessie Gratton. They remained in the Bulli area and raised a family.

Richard died in Bulli Hospital in 1930.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, RAWSON RICHARD