Almeida, Henry

No.1169 Gunner Henry Almeida – 36^th Heavy Artillery Group

Henry Almeida was born in Ballarat Victoria in 1887. His first job was working with the Victorian Trams, where he was a Tram Conductor. In 1908 Henry joined the Royal Australian Artillery of the Permanent Australian forces. Initially based at Queenscliffe Barracks in Victoria, he later was sent to the Artillery Barracks in Burt Street Fremantle. He was based here when war was declared in 1914.

Initially the permanent artillerymen were not able to enlist, but in 1915 it was decided to form a Heavy Siege Brigade from the Permanent Australian artillerymen. These men were taken from various states, and those at Fremantle joined up on the 1^st of June 1915.

After being sent to Melbourne Henry embarked on the A67 Orsova on the 17^th July 1915. He initially had the regimental number 55. They were sent straight to England where they trained before embarking for France. While the Batteries of the Siege Brigade went to France in March 1916, Henry stayed in England as he was undertaking a course at the Wireless School, but joined his unit in France on the 5^th May 1916.

Henry was not with the 36^th Heavy Artillery Group for long as on the 20^th June 1916 hew as admitted to Hospital at Camiers where he was diagnosed with pleurisy. Sent to England in early July he had several months in hospital before it was decided to send him back to Australia to recover. On the 17^th October 1916 Henry embarked from Portland on the Ajana. Arriving at Melbourne he was admitted to No.11 AGH and was discharged from the forces on the 30^th January 1917.

Henry re-enlisted in early 1918 and was assigned to the 16^th reinforcements to the 36^th HAG. This time he was given the regimental number 1169. He embarked from Melbourne on the Nestor 28^th February 1918 and on arrival in England was sent to the Australian Heavy Artillery training school at Devonport England, where he also instructed at the signalling school. He stayed in England for the duration of the war.

He married Amy Harriet Lacey on the 2^nd December 1918 in Ilford Essex.

Henry was sent to Hospital sick on the 24^th February 1919, and subsequently sailed for Australia in early March aboard the Nevassa. After his arrival back home he was diagnosed with Tuberculosis and he died on the 25^th November 1920. He is buried in Warringal Cemetery Victoria in the Church of England section, Plot MM.31.

ALMEIDA.- On the 25th November, at the Austin Hospital Heidelberg (military ward), Henry (Lob) the beloved husand of Amy Harriett, brother of Florence (Mrs Young, Dunolly), William (Ballarat), Thomas (Deniliquin), and stepfather of Charles Lacey, late of Royal Australian Artillery, and 36th Battery, Heavy Siege Artillery, A.I.F..." - from the Melbourne Argus 26 Nov 1920 (nla.gov.au)