Noel Eric Bolton-Wood

Noel Bolton-Wood (Service No 1910) was born in Dapto, N.S.W.

At enlistment Noel claimed to be 19 years old but he was in fact due to turn 17 three weeks later.  He stated his occupation as woolclasser and that he had served 18 months with the Militia.

Noel embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A55 Kyarra with 13th Battaion, 5th Reinforcement on 13th April 1915.  He arrived in Egypt then was sent on to Gallipoli, arriving on 28th August 1915.  He was evacuated due to illness on 21st September 1915.

On 19th March 1916 Noel was transferred to the Camel Corps and served in Egypt and the Middle East.  He was promoted to Sergeant on 18th August 1916 and on 24th November 1917 was made Company Quartermaster Sergeant.

Noel was again admitted to hospital in February 1917 and became dangerously ill with fever.  He returned to Australia in October 1918 on Special 1915 Leave. 

Dated 9th November 1917, a letter to the Minister for Defence, from 'a Commissioner of the Bank of N.S.W.', who was Noel's uncle, petitioned for Noel's release from active duty and return to Australia on the grounds that Noel's two  brothers had been killed, that his mother was a widow and that it would be a tragedy if Noel too, were to be killed.  The request was denied.  (See pages 53-60, NAA papers).

Noel was finally discharged from the AIF on 16th December 1918. 

Noel's brother, Lance Corporal Robert Bolton-Wood (Service No 2108) was killed on 29th August 1916 and another brother, Captain Raymond Bolton-Wood, was killed on 5th November 1917.

In 1921 Noel married Marjorie Linthorne in Blackwood, Western Australia. They settled in Sydney and were living there when he enlisted for service in World War II on 11th June 1940 (Service No NX31822).  Noel was killed in action in Greece on 20th April 1941 and is buried in Phaleron War Cemetry, Athens.

NOTE: Noel's World War I documents are filed at the National Archives of Australia with his World War II service documents.