Joslin, David
4067 Private David Joslin - 8th Light Trench Mortar Battery
David Joslin was born in Fremantle WA in 1896 to William and Sarah Joslin. He was one of eleven children born into the family. They lived at Mary Road South Fremantle before moving to Mandurah Road South Fremantle.
David was educated locally and also was part of the 86A Cadet scheme as well as the main 86th Infantry Regiment. After leaving school David took up work as a labourer.
On the 31st May 1916, David enlisted into the AIF. The medical examiner passed him as fit and recorded his details as;
Height - 5 Feet 5 & 1/2 inches tall;
Weight - 125lbs;
Chest Measurement - 33-35 Inches;
Complexion - Fresh;
Eyes - Blue;
Hair - Fair;
Religious Denomination - Church of England;
Distinctive Marks - Scar over left eye.
After his successful enlistment David was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp. He spent several weeks training with the 22nd Reinforcements to the 11th Battalion but in September 1916 was transferred to the 10th Reinforcements to the 32nd Battalion.
This group embarked from Fremantle Harbour on the 30th October 1916 aboard the HMAT Port Melbourne. After a long sea voyage the ship arrived at Devonport England on the 28th December 1916.
After being disembarked David and his group were marched into the 8th Training Battalion at Hurdcott Camp on the Salisbury Plains. David got into trouble early in January 1917 in overstaying his leave period, however the rest of his training appears to have gone smoothly and on the 28th March 1917 he was put in a draft of men that were bound for France.
The next day he arrived at Etaples in France and was marched into the 5th Australian Division Base Depot. He only had a few more days here and on the 12th April 1917 David was taken on strength of the 32nd Battalion.
In May 1917 David was with the 32nd battalion when the unit fought at the Second Battle of Bullecourt. He came through unscathed and in June 1917 was sent on a course to learn how to become a Mortar man at a Trench Mortar Battery Course.
It appears that while he was at the course David succumbed to temptation and a few weeks later was sent to a Venereal Disease Hospital. This necessitated several weeks out of action in hospital but by 13th August 1917 was sent to join the 8th Light Trench Mortar Battery.
On the 26th September 1917 while the unit fought at Polygon Wood during the Third Battle of Ypres, David was blown up by a shell. He sustained bad wounds to his legs and it appears that his foot was actually severed by the shrapnel.
He was sent to hospital in France and then on to England where the rest of his left leg was amputated below the knee. David's war was now over, but recovery would take some time.
On the 24th January 1918 David left England and embarked for Australia aboard the Hospital ship Dunluce Castle.
When the ship returned to Fremantle David was immediately sent to No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace. Here he was given further treatment for his injuries.
David was officially discharged from the AIF on the 16th July 1918.
David then trained as a boot repairer and opened his own business. In 1923 David married Dorothy Groves in Fremantle in 1923. A daughter from the marriage, Grace Joslin was born in 1923 and Marjory in 1925.
The family lived in Mary Street Beaconsfield
Unfortunately David had to sell his shoe repair business during the depression as his clients could no longer afford to pay him. Fortunately he found work with Fremantle Council as a roller driver and stayed with the Council until his retirement in 1952. He died in March 1963