Bath, Henry Gresham

No.1751 – Private Henry Gresham Bath – 12^th Battalion AIF

Henry Gresham Bath was born in Broken Hill NSW in 1893 to Thomas & Elizabeth Bath. He had several siblings born across Queensland, NSW and WA. When Henry was still young, the Bath family moved across to Western Australia. The family took up residence in Arundle Street Fremantle and spent their time between the Port City and Coolgardie/Kalgoorlie. Henry went to school in Boulder though soon left to work as a shop assistant and Horse Driver.

On the 15^th January 1915, Henry enlisted into the AIF with his brother William. They presented themselves at Swan Barracks in Perth and were both assigned to the 4^th Reinforcements to the 12^th Battalion AIF. The medical examiner found Henry to be 5 feet 4 inches in height; weight of 109 lbs; chest measurement of 33-35 inches; dark complexion; brown eyes and dark brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. Henry was given the regimental number 1751 and his brother William was given 1786.

Henry & William departed from Fremantle on the H.M.A.T. A8 “Argyllshire” on the 19^th April 1915. While they were on their journey, the 12^th Battalion was landing at Gallipoli, so after their arrival in Egypt they were made ready to head to Anzac Cove to fill the 12^th’s thinning ranks. On the 26^th May 1915 they landed at Anzac Cove and reinforced the 12^th Battalion in the vicinity of Bolton’s Ridge.

During the August Offensive at Gallipoli, the 1^st Infantry Brigade had attacked the Turkish trenches at Lone Pine. They successfully captured them but a huge bombing fight developed. As the 1^st Brigade casualties were mounting, the 12^th Battalion was called upon to reinforce. Henry was wounded in the bombing fight. He was evacuated back to the hospital ship and as he was also suffering from Diarrhea, Henry was taken to St Andrew’s Hospital in Malta. In September 1915 Henry was transferred to England to the County of London Military Hospital at Epsom. William Bath missed the Lone Pine attack as he had been evacuated ill on the 5^th August but rejoined on the 28^th August and saw out the campaign.

While Henry was recovering in Hospital, Gallipoli was evacuated in December 1915. William Bath and the 12^th Battalion returned to Egypt. It was not until March 1916 that Henry had regained fitness and was then attached to the 26^th Draft leaving England bound for the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in Egypt. After arrival in April he was taken on strength of the 3^rd Training battalion, as the 12^th Battalion had already left for France, thereby he missed joining up again with William. On the 9^th May 1916, Henry embarked from Egypt aboard the “Caledonia”, arriving in Marseilles on the 19^th May 1916. He entrained to the north coast of France where he joined the 1^st Australian Base Depot at Etaples. Henry would spend June & July at the Base Depot, only rejoining the 12^th battalion on the 4^th August 1916. The 12^th Battalion had sustained heavy casualties during their first time in the line at Pozieres and Henry was one of many reinforcements to fill the gaps in the ranks. Unfortunately his brother William had been badly wounded on the 29^th July and had been evacuated to England, so unfortunately Henry never did see his brother again.

The 12^th battalion were soon again up to the line at Pozieres and they were tasked with advancing towards Mouquet farm. Several attacks were made. Somewhere from the 19^th to 22^nd August 1916 Henry was killed in action. Due to the confused nature of the fighting it was hard to pin point Henry’s exact date of death. His body was not recovered and he is thus commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial to the Missing.

His parents, residing at, ‘Dromore’ Davies Street, North Fremantle, were sent Henry’s personal effects and after the war were able to claim his medals.

His younger brother Leslie Bath, died of wounds in France on 6^th November 1917 and elder brother Edward died in 1921 of war related causes after returning to Western Australia.

Due to his wounds William Bath was returned to Australia in 1917. He died on the 3^rd June 1967 in Mt Hawthorn and was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.