BATTERHAM, Herbert Thomas

BATTERHAM, Herbert Thomas – A Southern Downs Veteran

CONFLICT : WWI
SERVICE NO : 267
RANK : Corporal
UNIT : 42nd Battalion
ENLISTMENT DATE : 26/10/1915
AGE : 18
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT : Toowoomba, Queensland
PLACE OF BIRTH : Scone, New South Wales
RELIGION : Church of England
OCCUPATION : Labourer
DATE OF DEATH : 29/01/1917
PLACE OF BURIAL : Armentieres, France

MEMORIALS : Dalveen WWI Honour Boards, Stanthorpe Post Office Roll of Honour, Stanthorpe Soldiers Memorial Rolls of Honor, Brisbane 42nd Infantry Battalion AIF Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

View Veteran’s Service File : BATTERHAM, Herbert Thomas

NOTES :

Herbert was the eldest child of Thomas and Ann Batterham of Dalveen. George William Bott and Herbert enlisted together on the 26 October 1915 in Toowoomba. They were to join another twenty-two young men from Dalveen who had already joined the war effort.

In May 1916, Herbert was able to spend some time with his parents at Elmo, Dalveen. At the beginning of June 1916 Herbert together with the members of his unit in the 42nd Battalion, passed through Dalveen aboard a train travelling from Brisbane to Sydney. It was there that he embarked aboard the HMS Borda for service abroad.

A short six months later, Herbert was killed in action in Flanders on 29 January 1917. Having been wounded in the back, he was waiting for treatment when a shell exploded nearby and killed him.

Dalveen citizens mourned the death of another of their young men when the sad news reached the community confirming the death of Herbert.

The community was already reeling from the deaths of William Henry Burns, George Augustus Herbert Moss and John Thomas Cuddihy, all of Dalveen.

Read about Southern Downs Military History here.