Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Charley ADDISON and Mary Ann nee MUMFORD

Married 24 April 1919 Ethel Isabel PRESCOTT at Parish Church of St. Eebe, Oxford

Wife returned to Australia aboard the same ship as her husband

Reginald James Addison was born on 8th August 1890 at Aldinga, South Australia, the second of 4 children and the eldest son of his parents Charley and Mary Addison.  He had an older sister, Ethel, and a younger sister Linda.  His younger brother Bruce served in WW1 as did 2 of his 3 step brothers from his father’s first marriage. 

After completing his education he spent 4 years as an apprentice electrical engineer with Newton and McClaren at Adelaide.  He served 2½ years with the Adelaide Rifles which later became the 10th Infantry Battalion. 

Reginald was living at Goodwood, Unley, SA when he enlisted for WW1 at Keswick SA on 8th March 1915 aged 24.  His service number was 4702, his rank Sergeant and he was assigned to the 3rd Australian General Hospital (3AGH) Reinforcements.  He’s described as being 5ft 11ins tall with a fair complexion, grey eyes and brown hair.  After completing his training at Mitcham Camp he embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Wandilla on 15th June 1915 bound for Mudros on Lemnos Island where the newly established 3AGH was located. 

At the end of August Reginald was admitted to 3AGH with mitral regurgitation, a disease of the heart valve.  He was again admitted to 3AGH in mid-September with hepatitis.  A month later he was transferred to Alexandria and then evacuated to England on the hospital ship HMHS Aquitania.  He was admitted to the 5th London General Hospital at Lambeth with dysentery.  After convalescing he reported to the Base Depot at Weymouth where he remained till late June when he proceeded from Monte Video Camp to France having been transferred to the 3rd Field Ambulance (3FA).   

On 11th November 1916 while the 3FA was serving at the Corps Rest Station at Buire there was an enemy air raid.  The following entry from the unit diary describes the attack.  “At 00.40 this morning an enemy aeroplane flying low, dropped 6 bombs on the 1st Anzac Rest Station.  Five patients were killed outright, thirty three wounded more or less seriously and three slightly.  Of the personnel at this station one was killed, four seriously wounded and one slightly wounded.  All of these belonged to No. 3 Australian Field Ambulance.  One bomb was dropped on the Orderly Room, destroying a number of the records of the station and of the unit.  Damage was done to four marquee tents and eight bell tents.  The distinguishing lamps were burning brightly at the time the attack was made.” 

The unit moved to the Advanced Dressing Station at Bernafay Wood in early December.  On 12th December 1916 Reginald was in charge of a party of 20 men who were sent to relieve a group of men from the 1st Field Ambulance.  During this operation Reginald was wounded suffering shell shock.  He re-joined his unit 3 days later. 

In early January 1917 Reginald was admitted to hospital with PUO…a fever of unknown source.  Two weeks later he was transferred to the 3rd Canadian General Hospital at Dannes-Camiers, NW of Etaples, with gastritis.  In early February he was evacuated from Boulogne to England on the hospital ship HMHS Aberdonian and admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital at Netley.  A month later he was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital (3AAH) at Dartford. 

After taking furlough he proceeded to Perham Downs Camp in late March 1917.  From there he proceeded to Folkestone where he embarked for the Australian General Base Depot (AGBD) at Etaples in France.  There he re-joined the 3FA but not for long…a month later he was admitted to 9th Casualty Clearing Station (9CCS) at Aveluy, NE of Albert, with persistent gastritis.  He was transferred by hospital train to the 11th Stationary Hospital at Rouen and evacuated to England by the hospital ship HMHS St David.  He was admitted to the 3rd Southern General Hospital at Oxford in early June and 17 days later transferred to 3AAH at Dartford.  After taking leave in July he reported to No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth in early August 1917. 

In mid-June 1918 Reginald was made temporary Staff Sergeant for 3 months at Parkhouse Camp at Tidworth UK.  On 24th April 1919 Reginald married Ethel Isabel Prescott at Parish Church of St Ebbe in Oxford UK.  He was promoted to Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant on 1st May 1919 and granted indefinite leave from 7th August 1919.  He and Ethel embarked for Australia on HMAT Borda on 9th December 1919 and arrived in Australia on 24th January 1920.  Reginald was discharged medically unfit on 27th April 1920. 

Reginald and Ethel welcomed 3 sons…Kenneth born 1921, Charles 1928 and Ian 1930. 

In 1928 Reginald lost his discharge certificate and his war medal ribbons in a house fire.  On 2nd January 1931 the family arrived in England on SS Barrabool where Reginald took up a position at the Mosley Steel works in Birmingham. 

Reginald passed away on 21st December 1969 at Goole, Yorkshire, UK aged 79.  He is commemorated on the Goodwood Public School WW1 Roll of Honour and the Unley Town Hall WW1 Honour Board. 

Reginald James Addison was awarded for service in WW1 the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Respectfully submitted by Sue Smith 10th November 2022.