Andrew, Henry Robert

No. 5978 Private Henry Robert Andrew – 16^th Battalion

Henry Robert Andrew was born in Fremantle WA in 1889 to Henry and Frances Andrew. He spent his early years in this region and also attended Fremantle Boys School. After leaving school Henry took up training as a Carpenter but later found employment as a Glazier.

In 1913 he married Edith Smith and they took up residence in Kadina Street North Perth. They would have two children through unfortunately Leonard Andrew, their son, was born and died in 1914. A daughter, Grace was born in 1915 (d/2005).

On the 23^rd February 1916 Henry went to the Swan Barracks in Perth to enlist in the AIF. He was passed as fit for service with the medical examiner recording his details as 5 feet 8 inches in height, weight of 140lbs; chest measurement of 34-39 inches, dark complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Baptist.

Henry was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to No.50 Training Depot. He remained in this camp until the 12^th April 1916 when he was transferred into the 19^th Reinforcements to the 16^th battalion and was given the regimental number 5978. Henry trained with this group for the next few months in WA. They finally received their embarkation orders and on the 7^th August 1916 Henry boarded the HMAT Miltiades in Fremantle Harbour and set sail for England. After several weeks at sea, the ship arrived at Plymouth Harbour on the 20^th September 1916.

Upon being disembarked Henry and his group were sent to the 4^th training Battalion on the Salisbury Plains. He spent the next few months training in England and on the 12^th December 1916 Henry was sent in a draft of soldiers to Folkestone Harbour where they embarked on a troopship to France. On arrival in Etaples Henry was marched into the 4^th Australian Division Base Depot. He had just over a month in this base camp and on the 17^th January 1917 he was sent to join the 16^th Battalion and he was taken on strength of the unit the following day.

The 16^th Battalion were then situated on the Somme battlefield near Flers. It appears that Henry remained with the 16^th battalion through 1917 so he survived actions at Bullecourt, Messines and the Third Battle of Ypres.

On the 3^rd May 1918 he was wounded in action while the 16^th Battalion were on the Villers-Bretonneux front. He was evacuated to the 4^th Casualty Clearing Station and then to hospital in Le Treport. The wound kept Henry out of action for the next few months and he re-joined the 16^th Battalion on the 1^st September 1918. At this stage of the war the Germans were being pushed back to the Hindenburg Line and in operations on the 18^th September 1918 Henry was wounded. According to No.8030 Private W. H. Taylor;

I saw his hit by a shell on the arm – he had it dressed and was about to leave his sap with his water bottle and while standing up a shell came over hitting him in the back and shoulder. He was taken to the CCS and died there. He was hit both times at Le Verguier.’

After being hit by the shell Henry was taken by stretcher bearers to the 4^th Field Ambulance and then transferred to the 48^th Casualty Clearing Station. Unfortunately the wounds proved too severe to recover from and Henry died on the 19^th September 1918.

Henry was extremely unfortunate as this was the last time the 16^th Battalion were in the front line during the war and he was one of the unit’s last casualties.

Henry was buried at Brie British Cemetery four miles south of Peronne.

Henry’s wife would receive his personal effects plus his medals and death plaque over the next few years. In 1921 Edith Andrew remarried to Alexander Glenn, a returned soldier from the 32^nd Battalion.

Edith would write the following epitaph for Henry’s Grave.

It Is Enough

Earth’s Struggles

Soon Shall Cease

Then Perfect Peace