Spencer GWYNNE
Born 3 September 1891 in Port Augusta, South Australia [55]
Son of Andrew GWYNNE and Margaret MORROW [55]
Farmer in Woodanilling, Western Australia [50]
Enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in the Perth suburb of Guildford on Wednesday 9 December 1914 [30: item 4362407]
He been passed as fit for enlistment in Katanning on 1 October 1914 [30]
Upon enlistment he was 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighed 160 pounds and had brown hair, brown eyes and a fair complexion [30]
Gave his father Andrew GWYNNE as his next of kin, whose address was Jolimont and later Doodlakine in Western Australia [30]
He was appointed to the 10th Light Horse Battalion in the Perth suburb of Claremont on 21 December 1914 [30]
Embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia for active service abroad on the H.M.A.T. A52 Surada on 17 February 1915 [30]
Private 413 in the Australian Imperial Force's 10th Light Horse Battalion on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey [30]
Hospitalised due to sickness in Gallipoli on 5 October 1915 and after recovering returned to duty on 11 October 1915 [30]
He was moved with his unit to Egypt in December 1915 where he served out the remainder of his active service [30]
Promoted from the rank of Private to Lance Corporal on 16 August 1915, and to Corporal on 22 January 1916 [30]
He was mentioned in the despatches of Sir Archibald MURRAY on 18 March 1917 for distinguished services in the field [30]
For conspicuous gallantry in action he was Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (D.C.M.) on 21 March 1917 [30]
He had gone to the assistance of his troop officer whose horse had been killed and "set a fine example to all ranks" [30]
Qualified for an A.I.F. commission and was appointed 2nd Lieutenant on 9 March 1918, and Lieutenant on 10 June 1918 [30]
Wounded in Action in Egypt on 30 September 1918 and was evacuated to hospital with a gunshot wound to his left forearm [30]
As a result he was returned to Australia, embarking from Suez, Egypt on the H.T. Leicestershire on 28 December 1918 [30]
Arrived home in Woodanilling for five days from 23 January 1919 and was tendered a Social & Dance on the 27th [487: 3-Fec-1919]
His commission was terminated on 11 April 1919; received the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal [30]
Married Florence Mary DIVAL in 1920 [66]
Farmer of Magdabah Farm in Woodanilling 1921-1932 [6] [50]
Secretary of the Woodanilling Road Board in Woodanilling 1928-1932 [6]
In September 1932 it was announced he'd shortly be shifting to Mingenew and he had by October 1932 [39: 19-Sep-1932, 15-Oct-1932]
Secretary of the Mingenew Road Board in Mingenew 1932-1937 [101: page 153]
The Road Board covered 740 square miles and in 1936 contained 164 registered motor and other vehicles [120: 15-Oct-1936]
He "generally displayed all those attributes that go towards making a highly estimable and desirable citizen" [86: 27-Feb-1937]
He "interested himself very largely in local affairs" and took "a leading part in bringing about many improvements in he district" [86]
Member of the Mingenew Tennis Club in 1932-33 [4: 8-Apr-1933]
Attended a large meeting in Three Springs to form a North Midlands Chamber of Commerce on 18 November 1932 [4: 26-Nov-1932]
Member of the Mingenew Recreation Advisory Committee in 1934 [101: page 129]
Member of the Mingenew Cricket Club in 1935-36 and 1936-37 [5: 1-Nov-1935, 13-Nov-1936]
Committee Member of the Mingenew Parents & Citizens Association in 1936 [4: 29-Aug-1936]
Member of the Mingenew Hospital Association - was Secretary in 1936 [39: 8-May-1936]
Supervisor of the Picnic Sports Meeting in Mingenew in 1936, which raised almost £100 for a Hospital Building Fund [39: 8-May-1936]
Attended the Fifth Annual North Midlands R.S.L. Reunion Dinner in Dongara on Saturday evening 24 October 1936 [5: 30-Oct-1936]
Represented the North Midlands at Country Week Cricket in Perth during the second week of February 1937 [5: 12-Feb-1937]
Accompanied by his wife and children he left Mingenew on Monday 8 March 1937 and shifted to Armadale [86: 13-Mar-193]]
They left as as he had been appointed Secretary-Engineer of the Armadale Road Board [86: 27-Feb-1937]
Resided of late in the Perth suburb of Armadale [2]
Died 24 April 1959; buried Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth WA (Anglican, WI, 456) [2]
His wife Florence, late of the Perth suburb of Thornlie, passed away at the age of 100 years on 30 December 1998 [2]
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'Spencer Gwynne' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 18 November 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/spencer-gwynne [reference list] |
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