Truran, Herbert Spencer
488 Private Herbert Spencer Truran - 11th Battalion AIF
Herbert Spencer Truran was born in Victoria in 1891 to Samuel and Harriet Truran. The family then moved to South Australia where three younger brothers were born, William (1893), Victor (1895) and Basil (1897).
While the boys were still young the family moved to Western Australia and took up residence in Fremantle. The family lived at 160 Forrest Street East Fremantle (now No.67) and the boys completed their schooling locally.
Herbert spent three years with the 11th Australian Garrison Artillery as part of the Citizens Military Forces. During this time he was working locally as a Builder.
In 1913 Herbert married Sarah Kerr Young and they initially lived with the family in 160 Forrest Street East Fremantle. A daughter called Ivy was born in 1913.
On the 14th August 1914 Basil enlisted at the Fremantle Drill Hall. He was passed as fit for service with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 7 & 1/2 inches;
Weight - 9 stone 11;
Chest Measurement - 35 & 1/2 inches;
Complexion - Pale;
Eyes - Brown;
Hair - Brown.
After his successful enlistment Herbert was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the 11th Battalion AIF.
The 11th Battalion trained at Blackboy Hill Camp till late October as on the 31st October 1914 they boarded the transport ship H.M.A.T. “Ascanius”. The ship then moored in Gage Roads till the 2nd November 1914 when they set sail for Egypt.
After their arrival in Egypt the 11th Battalion set up camp at Mena. While here, their 8 company system was changed into 4 Companies with the result that Herb’s D Company combined with C Company to form new “B” Company. The next few months would be spent in hard training. On the 2nd March 1915 the 11th Battalion, as part of the 3rd Brigade departed Egypt and headed for Lemnos Island.
They were based here for preparation of a landing on the Turkish Coast. Of the three infantry brigades, the 3rd was judged the most experienced in training and capability and was therefore chosen to make the initial landing. While at Lemnos they practiced disembarking from their ships into the whalers as well as training on the island and going for route marches. In April they were joined by other Australian, New Zealand, British and French troops.
On April 25th 1915 the landing took place, with the 11th Battalion landing in the area from Plugges Plateau to out along North Beach. The men made their way inland as best they could through the rugged country. Turkish resistance increased throughout the day particularly along the vital heights of the 2nd Ridge. Herb made it through the early fighting unscathed.
Herbert served through the first five months at Gallipoli however in late September 1915 he was evacuated ill to the hospital ship. Herb would spend the next few months in hospital recovering as he was only discharged from hospital on the 5th January 1916.
He was then sent to the infantry depot while he waited for the 11th Battalion to return from Gallipoli. However he was again hospitalised ill and after regaining is health he was posted to the Australian Provost Corps in Egypt.
This included stints of guard duty at No.3 Australian General Hospital and No.14 Australian General Hospital through 1917.
In January 1918 the Guard at No.14 Australian General Hospital was disbanded and he was taken back on strength of the APC. Herbert worked for the APC in Egypt for most of 1918.
As he was an original enlistee, Herbert was given what was known as Anzac leave. This was a six month leave to Australia. Herb embarked from Suez on the 13th October 1918 but by the time he arrived home in Fremantle on the 12th November 1918, the Armistice had been declared and the war was over.
Herbert Truran was discharged from the AIF on the 13th January 1919.
After the war was over Herb returned to his building trade and lived at 160 Duke Street East Fremantle and was working as an assembler. Another daughter, Evelyn, was born in 1919.
Through the 1920's and 30's Herbert also worked as an Engine Driver and the family lived for a time in Marmion Street.
Prior to World War Two the family was living at 17 Tamar Street in Palmyra and Herb was working as a Refrigeration Engineer/Engine Driver.
On the 9th October 1939 Herbert again enlisted for service, this time in World War Two. He was given the regimental number W242853 and was assigned to the 10th Garrison Battalion. This unit was based on the coast near Swanbourne and also in Perth.
In 1941 Herb was transferred to the 5th Garrison Battalion on Rottnest Island. He subsequently served in places such as Narrogin, Claremont and Swanbourne.
In 1943 Herb was discharged and he went to work as an engine driver for the WA Meat Export Company. He continued this work through the 1950's before he became a storeman and lived in Willagee.
Herbert Truran died in Willagee in 1964 aged 72. He is buried at Fremantle Cemetery plot Anglican Mon AA1595.