Trease, Vaughan Gilbert

No.6406 – Driver Vaughan Gilbert Trease – 16^th Company AASC

Vaughan Gilbert Trease was born in Fremantle WA in 1894 to John and Blanche Trease. He had an older sister, also named Blanche born in 1890. The family lived in 15 Sydney Street Fremantle and Vaughan was educated at the local State School. During this time Vaughan began service with the 86A cadets of the Citizens Military Forces and he continued this service after leaving school when he took up work as a Blacksmith’s Striker.

On the 11^th June 1915 Vaughan went to the Francis Street Drill Hall in Perth and enlisted in the AIF. He was passed as fit for service with the medical examiner finding Vaughan to be 5 feet 8 & ½ inches tall; weight of 146lbs; chest measurement of 34-36 inches; dark complexion; grey eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Presbyterian. Upon his successful enlistment Vaughan was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was sent to the Medical Depot and was then assigned to the Special reinforcements to the 1^st Australian General Hospital with the regimental no.4881.

He did not have long with this group in WA as on the 25^th June 1915 Vaughan and his group were sent to Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the HMAT Wandilla and set sail for Egypt. The sea voyage took over three weeks and after arriving in Egypt in July Vaughan was transferred to the 16^th Company of the Australian Army Service Corps of the 6^th Infantry Brigade Train. Vaughan’s regimental number was changed to 6406 and he served with this group in Egypt until the 1^st November 1915 when he reported sick.

Vaughan was sent to the 1^st Australian General Hospital in Heliopolis where he was diagnosed with rheumatism and valvular disease of the heart. His condition was being aggravated by his military service and it was recommended that Vaughan be discharged as medically unfit. On the 20^th January 1916 Vaughan was sent to Suez where he boarded the HS Karoola and set sail for WA, returning home on the 21st February 1916.

After arriving in Fremantle Vaughan was sent to hospital but was eventually discharged from the AIF in September 1916. Over the next year Vaughan’s condition must have improved as on the 26^th June 1917 he again enlisted in the AIF. Due to his medical issues, he was not sent overseas but was kept on Home service duties. He served for two months at Blackboy Hill Camp but on the 24^th August 1917 he requested a discharge for the AIF. This was granted and he was released from his duties.

Vaughan returned to his civilian life but due to his condition not improving he was in hospital a lot of the time and on the 16^th September 1918 he died at No.8 AGH in South Terrace Fremantle. He was given a military funeral at Fremantle Cemetery where he was buried in plot PRES EE170. By this stage his mother was living in San Francisco in the United States having remarried to a Mr. SH Sackett.

Vaughan Trease had a baby daughter with Alice Spratley named Edith Constance Spratley