Drew, Oscar Desmond

No.2471 – Private Oscar Desmond Drew – 16^th Battalion AIF

Oscar was Victor’s younger brother, having been born in Gippsland Victoria in 1894. It appears his parents may have died while Oscar was still young as Victor was named as Oscar’s guardian. Victor was also listed as Oscar’s next of kin when he enlisted. Prior to the war it appears Oscar also worked in Fremantle but it was in Geraldton that he enlisted on the 13^th May 1915.

The medical officer found Oscar to be physically fit for service and recorded his attributes as; 5 feet 6 inches in height; weight of 120lbs; chest measurement of 31-34 inches; dark complexion; brown eyes and black hair. His religious denomination was Church of England.

Oscar was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the 7^th Reinforcements to the 16^th Battalion. This group sailed from Fremantle Harbour aboard the HMAT Chilka on the 19^th June 1915.

The journey to Egypt took just over three weeks and after arriving at Suez the men were sent into a reinforcement camp. Oscar didn’t have long here as he was taken on strength of the 16^th Battalion at Gallipoli on the 2^nd August 1915. He joined them just in time for their role in the August offensive, when the 4^th Brigade tried to capture the heights of Hill 971. Despite much bravery the assaults failed and on the 8^th August Oscar was in the thick of the fighting as he was wounded in the knee by a Turkish bayonet.

He was sent for medical attention to the 29^th Field Ambulance and then put aboard a hospital ship which took him to Lemnos Island where he was admitted to the 2^nd Australian Stationary Hospital.

Fortunately the wound was not severe and Oscar soon rejoined the 16^th Battalion when they came to Lemnos Island for a rest period. However on 4^th October Oscar came down ill and was diagnosed with debility. He was sent to No.3 AGH, where he remained for a week before being sent to a convalescent camp. His condition didn’t improve and he also developed rheumatism. Subsequently on the 25^th November 1915 Oscar was invalided to England. On the 4^th December he was admitted to Brook War Hospital in Woolwich, where he remained until 5^th February 1916. Oscar then went AWOL for a period and due to him threatening military police and making a false statement he was awarded 20 days detention. It appears that Oscar also now contracted VD which kept him in England for a few more months.

On the 28^th June 1916 Oscar shipped off to France but after a few weeks in the Base Depot he reported sick and was diagnosed with gastritis. He had a few more months in hospital and base but finally rejoined the 16^th Battalion on the 2^nd September 1916. Oscar served the next two months without incident but on the 6^th November he went AWOL for a period and upon his return to the unit he had to complete three days of Field Punishment No.2

Oscar served with the 16^th Battalion through the 1916/17 French winter but on the 4^th April 1917 he was sent to the 4^th Field Ambulance suffering from asthma and debility.

Oscar rejoined the 16^th Battalion near Messines in Belgium on the 16^th June 1917. He served through the next three months but on the 13^th September 1917 Oscar was sent to hospital with tonsillitis. He soon recovered but was given a furlough to England and overstayed his leave. He was charged with being AWOL but he remained in England as he had to be sent to the 1^st ADH at Bulford due to a recurrence of the VD.

It appears that Oscar continued to rack up infractions while in hospital as he continued to disobey orders and take unauthorised leave.

He eventually returned to the 16^th Battalion on the 27^th April 1918. He had another bout of sickness and again went absent without leave for a short period. However on the 15^th June 1918 Oscar deserted his unit and he was arrested three months later in Paris. Upon recapture he was charged with desertion and sentenced to ten years hard labour in a military prison. Oscar was perhaps fortunate as if he was in the British Army he would have been shot.

Oscar began his imprisonment at No.10 Military Prison in Dunkirk. However due to the Armistice being signed on the 11^th November 1918, Oscar would only serve a short sentence. On the 30^th January 1919 he was transferred to Maidstone Prison in England. He served the next three months in prison here and on the 1^st May 1919 Oscar was put aboard the HMAT China and set sail for Australia, reaching Fremantle on the 2^nd June 1919. Oscar was discharged from the AIF on the 19^th July 1919, no doubt Oscar and the Military being glad to see the back of each other.

Unfortunately due to his desertion, Oscar was never able to claim his service medals. He later moved to Lismore in NSW. He died on 8^th January 1986 at Tumut New South Wales.