Reginald James FORDHAM

FORDHAM, Reginald James

Service Number: 7356
Enlisted: 8 August 1916, Enlisted Bathurst NSW Allocated to 7th Reinforcement’s 34th Battalion
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 2nd Infantry Battalion
Born: Katoomba, News South Wales, Australia , date not yet discovered
Home Town: Katoomba, Blue Mountains Municipality, New South Wales
Schooling: Katoomba Public School, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation: Porter
Memorials:
Show Relationships

World War 1 Service

8 Aug 1916: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 7356, 2nd Infantry Battalion, Enlisted Bathurst NSW Allocated to 7th Reinforcement’s 34th Battalion
9 Aug 1916: Transferred AIF WW1, Private, Depot Battalion , Posted to Depot Battalion Bathurst for initial training till 14 November 1916
10 Feb 1917: Involvement Private, 7356, 2nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: RMS Osterley embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: ''
10 Feb 1917: Embarked Private, 7356, 2nd Infantry Battalion, RMS Osterley, Sydney
1 Apr 1917: Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 1st Infantry Training Battalion, Posted to 1st Infantry Training Battalion UK till 4th December 1917
11 Dec 1917: Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 2nd Infantry Battalion, Taken on strength in the Field France 🇫🇷
23 May 1918: Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 7356, 2nd Infantry Battalion, German Spring Offensive 1918, Wounded in Action GSW Thigh evacuated to No2 Casualty Clearing Station France
18 Sep 1918: Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 7356, 2nd Infantry Battalion, Breaching the Hindenburg Line - Cambrai / St Quentin Canal, Wounded 2nd Occasion Shrapnel wounds to Head Chest and arm severe Evacuated to 12th Field Ambulance Then onto 3rd Auxiliary Hospital UK
31 Mar 1919: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 7356, 2nd Infantry Battalion, Evacuated to Australia Medically Unfit Shrapnel Wounds to Head Chest Arm for treatment and convalescence
23 Apr 1921: Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 7356, 2nd Infantry Battalion, Discharged 2MD Medically Unfit Still On strength of the AIF 14th January 1921

Help us honour Reginald James Fordham's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Pam Hamilton

Could this be the last  man serving in the AIF?

The 1st AIF ceased to exist on the 21st April 1921

Private Fordham was still drawing pay up and till 14 January 1921 

AIF HQ conducted inquiry to ascertain members still serving (those who had not formally discharged)

Private Fordham may have been posted to a Military Hospital for treatment and convalescence for 2 years after his return to Australia 

Subsequently Private Fordham was discharged from the AIF on 23 April 1921

 

Read more...