Cole, Raymond Cedric

1900 Private Raymond Cedric Cole - 51st Battalion AIF

Raymond Cedric Cole was born in Birdsville Queensland on the 5th March 1899 to John and Marie Cole.

The family soon moved to Western Australia and then set up residence in Perth and then Fremantle. Their Fremantle address was 9 Alexander Road Fremantle (later 3 Wray Avenue).

After leaving school Ray took up work as a Clerk.

On the 10th March 1916 Ray enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force in Fremantle. He was accepted as fit for service with the medical examiner recording Ray's physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 5 & 1/2 inches tall;

Weight - 112lbs;

Chest Measurement - 29-34 inches;

Complexion - Fair;

Eyes - Blue;

Hair - Auburn.

After his successful enlistment Raymond was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp. He was initially assigned to No.56 Training Depot where he was taken through the basics of infantry training. After a short time he was transferred to the 18th Reinforcements to the 16th Battalion. He trained with this group for a few weeks, but on the 11th April 1916 was transferred to the 3rd Reinforcements to the 51st Battalion AIF.

He trained with this group in WA for the next few months. On the 18th July 1916 Ray and his group received their embarkation orders and they entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Seang Bee. The ship then set sail for England, reaching Plymouth on the 9th September 1916.

After being disembarked Ray and his group were sent to the 13th Training Battalion on the Salisbury Plains. He remained here for the next few months undergoing training. On the 28th November 1916 he was sent across to France and upon arrival was sent into the 4th Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples.

Ray remained there for two weeks and then joined the 51st Battalion on the 14th December 1916. The 51st Battalion were then situated on the Somme battlefield near Flers undergoing a very cold French winter. they were here until February 1917.

In March 1917 the Germans began their withdrawal to their pre-prepared defensive position known as the Hindenburg Line. The Australian and British units followed up this withdrawal closely and several sharp actions were fought. Ray saw action at Vaulx-Vraucourt in late March 1917 and then at Noreuil on April 2nd 1917 when that French village was captured.

The 51st Battalion were in reserve during the Bullecourt action on April 11th 1917. They spent a few more weeks on this front but in June were transferred to Belgium. They took part in the operations from June 7th to 11th in the Messines offensive and then remained on this front to August 1917.

In September 1917 Ray and the 51st Battalion were then sent to Ypres to take part in the Offensive operations happening there. On September 26th 1917 Ray was at Polygon Wood but survived that unscathed. The 51st Battalion were brought back to the line in early October 1917. On the 12th October 1917 while the 51st Battalion was holding the front line, a shell exploded close to Ray, with shrapnel hitting him in the thigh.

He was given initial medical treatment at the Field Ambulance and was then transferred to the 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station. After further treatment Ray was then put on an ambulance train and sent to Boulogne where he was admitted to No.14 General Hospital.

After a couple of days there Ray was transferred to England where he was admitted to No.4 London General Hospital. He was a patient here from the 16th October 1917 to the 17th January 1918. Ray was then transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford. He spent four days there and was now well enough to be given a two week furlough.

After his returned from leave Ray was sent to No.1 Command Depot Camp at Sutton Veny. He spent a few weeks here and was then transferred to the Overseas Training Brigade Camp at Longbridge Deverell.

On the 5th April 1918 Ray was posted to the 12th Training Battalion at Codford before being transferred to the 13th Training Battalion and the 4th Division Signal School.

Due to his wound Ray would not be returning to France but was utilised in the AIF camps in England for the remainder of 1918.

On the 28th February 1919 Ray went to Devonport Harbour and boarded the transport ship Anchises. The ship then set sail for Australia and they arrived at Albany on the 7th April 1919. Ray then caught the train north to Perth.

Ray was discharged from the AIF on the 19th May 1919.

In 1923 in Perth Ray married Wilhemina Julia Schuts. They had a daughter Patricia born in 1924.

Lived at Coode St South Perth and Ray was working as a wood machinist.

In World War two Ray again offered his services, enlisting on the 24th February 1942. (W47910) He was assigned to the 13th Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps. He served in the metro region as well as at Dongara, Cue, Mingenew, Moora and Bunbury. Ray was discharged in December 1944.

Ray died on the 2nd September 1967 aged 68 and was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery plot Roman Catholic Lawn 7 0125.