Flynn, Henry Arthur

3329 Private Henry Arthur Flynn - 11th Battalion AIF

Henry was born in Fremantle WA on the 21st September 1878 to Timothy and Sophie Flynn and was one of fourteen siblings born into the family.

He initially grew up in Fremantle and then the family moved to Perth. After leaving school he took up an apprenticeship in being an Upholsterer. This was of five years duration with EJ Bickford in Perth. After he finished his apprenticeship Henry continued to work in this field.

In 1915 Henry married Marion F Roy and they took up residence in Coolgardie Street Subiaco.

On the 30th July 1915 Henry enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was accepted as fit for service with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 6 & 1/2 inches tall;

Weight - 168lbs;

Chest Measurement - 36-40 inches;

Complexion - Fair;

Eyes - Blue;

Hair - Brown.

After his successful enlistment Henry was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was initially sent to No.20 Training Depot. He would have a few weeks in here being taken through the basics of infantry work. On the 27th September 1915 he was sent to join the 11th Reinforcements to the 11th Battalion AIF.

He trained with this group in WA for the next month while they waited for their embarkation orders to arrive. On the 2nd November 1915 Henry embarked from Fremantle aboard the transport ship HMAT Ulysses. The ship set sail for Egypt and arrived there at the end of the month.

Henry and the men would have been expecting to be sent on to Gallipoli, but with plans underway to evacuate that battlefield, they were instead retained in Egypt. Henry would not join the 11th Battalion until the 2nd March 1916.

A few week later they were sent to France, leaving Alexandria on the 29th March 1916 and arriving at Marseilles on the 5th April 1916. The 11th Battalion were then entrained north for the Armentieres region of France. They were here from April till June 1916 gaining experience on the Western Front.

In July 1916 the 11th Battalion, as part of the 1st Australian Division, were sent to the Somme Battlefield to take part in the current offensive taking place there. On July 23rd 1916 the 11th Battalion took part in the capture of Pozieres village.

During the assault Henry had been shot in the leg and after being initially treated at the 2nd Australian Field Ambulance he was then forwarded onto the 44th Casualty Clearing Station. He was then sent to the 16th General Hospital at Le Treport. After a few days of treatment here Henry was shipped to England.

Upon arrival in England on the 27th July Henry was sent to the 3rd Western General Hospital in Cardiff. He remained here till the 11th September 1916. He was then transferred to a Convalescent Hospital at Woodcote Park Epsom. He was here till the 18th October 1916 when he was given a two week furlough. After his leave was over Henry then reported to No.1 Command Depot Camp.

Henry was in England for several more weeks and then returned to France on the 21st December 1916. He spent a few weeks at the 1st Australian Division Base Depot and then re-joined the 11th Battalion on the 10th January 1916.

The 11th Battalion were then in the vicinity of Flers on the Somme battlefield. After two weeks with his unit, Henry was accidently shot in the hand while in the trench by a machine gun, most likely by another soldier cleaning their machine gun or changing the guns belts. No blame was attributed to Henry and it was ruled accidental.

He was sent to the 5th General Hospital at Rouen and after a day was shipped to England. On arrival in England he was sent to Guildford War Hospital. As the wound was a serious one and had done much damage to his hand, Henry was in hospital in Guildford until the 29th June 1917. He was then given a two week furlough, after which he reported to the AIF Camp at Codford.

He spent a few weeks at Codford, then on the 31st July 1917 was sent to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth. The medical authorities had advised that due to his wound, Henry should be sent back to Australia.

On the 27th August 1917 he boarded the New Zealand hospital ship Pakeha and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 14th October 1917. After being disembarked Henry was sent to No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle. He was then discharged from the AIF on the 2nd November 1917.

Henry then returned home to Leederville where he lived with his wife. He returned to the upholstery trade though the wound to his hand would prove a hindrance at times.

Henry Flynn died on the 15th December 1938 aged 60. He was buried in Karrakatta Cemetery plot Roman Catholic AA 0476