Henry Rice GARDENER

Badge Number: S13010
S13010

GARDENER, Henry Rice

Service Number: 2273
Enlisted: 27 November 1914, Oaklands, SA
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 1st Stationary Hospital (AIF)
Born: Hampstead, London England, 19 August 1878
Home Town: Adelaide, South Australia
Schooling: Hampstead Boarding School, London, England
Occupation: Caretaker
Died: Tuberculosis, St Peters, South Australia, 5 July 1926, aged 47 years
Cemetery: AIF Cemetery, West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide, South Australia
Section: LO, Road: 9S, Site No: 3
Memorials:
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World War 1 Service

27 Nov 1914: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2273, 1st Australian Stationary Hospital, Oaklands, SA
20 Mar 1915: Involvement Private, 2273, 1st Stationary Hospital (AIF), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '23' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Shropshire embarkation_ship_number: A9 public_note: ''
20 Mar 1915: Embarked Private, 2273, 1st Stationary Hospital (AIF), HMAT Shropshire, Melbourne
11 Nov 1918: Involvement Private, 2273

After Discharge

After his discharge from the Citizens Forces, Henry went on to work as a tram conductor.

Pte Henry Rice Gardener

From How We Served

2273 Private Henry Rice Gardener had immigrated to Australia from London just prior to the outbreak of hostilities and was employed as a caretaker at the time of his enlistment in Adelaide, South Australia on the 27th of November 1914.

Prior to leaving England for Australia Henry had already served a total of 12 years in the British Army, which included service with the Royal Army Medical Corps during the Boer War and had been a member of the Saint John’s Ambulance Brigade. On his enlistment, at the age of 39, Henry was allocated to reinforcements for the 1st Australian Stationary Hospital 1st AIF and was shipped to Egypt for further training on the 20th of March 1915, and after this he was taken on strength with his Unit.

By the 27th of May Henry was admitted into hospital at Zeitoun where it was discovered that he was suffering from tuberculosis of both lungs, and that this had developed before he immigrated to Australia. Henry had attempted to re-join the British Army for a second engagement during 1911 but was knocked back as this TB was discovered when he underwent a medical so as to re-enlist in England. Hence Henry’s immigration to Australia so to avoid his history of ill health being detected.

It was established in Egypt that Henry was an invalid who was not fit for active service and subsequently he was embarked for his return to Australia on the 5th of July and was admitted into the 7th Australian General Hospital (Keswick). Henry received his official discharge from the 1st AIF on the 29th of November 1915. Re-entering civilian life, Henry’s health further declined and his premature death occurred on the 5th of July 1926 at the age of 47.

Following his death Henry was formally interred within West Terrace Cemetery, South Australia.

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Biography contributed by Linda Hawes

British Medical Association, Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide, South Australia is the address he gave for his NOK on his attestation paper when he enlisted on 27 November 1914. C/O was not used.

He states that he served in the British army for a total of 13 Years.

According to his Australian service records he was discharged on 29 November 1915 and he enlisted for the Citizen Forces on 1 October 1916. (This additional information was found in the National Archives of Australia. I am great-granddaughter, and so feel that it is my right to share this information to this virtual memorial).

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Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

Husband of Mrs Jennie Louisa Gardener (his second wife, his first wife died after childbirth), c/o British Medical Association, Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide, South Australia

Served in the British Army in the South African War, 1899-1902 (Queen's Medal with four bars; King's Medal with two bars).Subsequently enlisted in the Royal Garrison Artillery, England.

In WWI he served in  Egypt, Gallipoli (contracted illness), invalided to Australia, 3 August 1915; discharged as medically unfit, December 1915. Re-enlisted in the Army Pay Corps for Home Service; contracted illness; discharged, 31 October 1916.

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