Military History

Trained at Blackboy Hill and was allocated to 6th Reinf. of the 44th Bn. on 18.8.1916, then changed to the 5th Reinf. 44th Bn. 4.9.1916.

Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Argyllshire’ A8 for England 9.11.1916.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 5th Reinf. 44th Infantry Bn. AIF.
Cleland disembarked at Devonport with his 44th Bn. 5th Reinf. and marched in to the 11th Training Bn. 10.1.1917. After 3 months of intensive training, he embarked at Folkestone for France 5.4.1917. Cleland marched in to Etaples for further training and was then attached to the 11th Machine Gun Coy from his Bn. 29.5.1917. He fought with his MGC at the Third Battle of Ypres from July 1917 and was wounded in action near Messines Ridge 2.8.1917. Cleland received severe GSW (shell damage) to his right leg and was transferred from the Casualty Clearing Station in the Field to the No.3 Stationary Hospital at Rouen 9.9.1917. He was invalided to England per HS ‘Aberdonian’ 10.9.1917 and admitted to the 1st Southern General Hospital at Stourbridge. He was treated for a compound fracture of the right tibia and severe flesh wound to his left elbow, then transferred to Harefield Hospital. Hospital records note about 3 inches of bone was missing from a third of his right tibia. Cleland was transferred to the 1st Auxiliary Hospital, where he was declared an invalid, unfit for any further service 4.10.1917. Cleland was listed for a ’change’ and return to Australia.
Embarked England for Australia per HS No1 ‘Karoola’ 25.11.1917.
Returned/ Disembarked Fremantle 4.1.1918.
Discharged 1.7.1918.
Final Rank Private, 11th Machine Gun Coy.
Medical Condition Invalided with severe shell wounds.
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes In January 1919 Cleland was admitted to the No 8 General Hospital at Fremantle where he died from injuries (un united bones in tibia and pneumonia) 14.1.1919. His sister was present at his death.

Photo Samuel Davenport Cleland. Photograph source  Carolyn Johnson
           Text- image The Sun Kalgoorlie 19.1.1919 p6
           HMAT 'Argyllshire'. 1914-15. Postcard by Geyer Studio NSW, image source AWM P10581.002
           Australian Soldiers travelling to Messines Ridge June 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E00475
           No 8 General Hospital Fremantle 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM H11718
           Grave of Samuel Davenport Cleland, DOW 14.1.1919. Grave located in Fremantle Cemetery, Palmyra WA. Image source Billion Graves
         

Information Source
AWM P10581.002. HMAT 'Argyllshire'. 1914-15. Postcard by Geyer Studio NSW, image sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial 
AWM E00475. Australian Soldiers travelling to Messines Ridge June 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM No 8 General Hospital Fremantle 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM H11718
AWM Embarkation Roll- Samuel Davenport Cleland
Billion Graves. Grave of Samuel Davenport Cleland, DOW 14.1.1919. Grave located in Fremantle Cemetery, Palmyra WA. Image source Billion Graves website https://billiongraves.com/grave/Samuel-Davenport-Cleland/7475624#/
Caroline Johnson. Samuel Davenport Cleland. Photograph source Carolyn Johnson
NAA: B2455, Cleland S D
The Sun Kalgoorlie
Wise, H.& Coy. Western Australian Post Office Directories. SLWA

‘Riversleigh,’ 132 Swan St. Guildford. WA.

Associated Images