Embarkation Roll
Reuben Garrett Stafford
First Name:
Reuben
Middle Name:
Garrett
Last Name:
Stafford
Mother's Name:
Susan (nee Hammer)
Father's Name:
Henry Stafford
Date Enlisted:
Monday, March 13, 1916
Rank at Enlistment:
Pte
Rank at Discharge:
L/Cpl
Unit:
1st battalion
Service:
Infantry
Awards:
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Date of Death:
Saturday, February 20, 1960
Place of Death:
Wollongong Hospital
Details:
Reuben Garrett Stafford was born at Cordeaux in 1883 and began his working life as a miner at Mount Kembla with his father and brothers. Prior to the war, like most young men, he did military service, spending 2 years in the Light Horse brigade. In 1907 he married Annie Rann. When he enlisted, on 13 March, 1916, he was 33 years old. He embarked with the 1st Battalion, 19th Reinforcements on the HMAT A18 Wiltshire on 22 August, 1916. He saw service on the Western Front & suffered many times from trench fever. Despite this, on 1 October, 1918, he was promoted to Lance Corporal. He returned to Australia on 31 May, 1919, and was discharged. After the war he took up farming and remained in the Mount Kembla area. He died in Wollongong Hospital on 20 February, 1960.
Sources:
NAA: B2455; STAFFORD REUBEN GARRETT
