Military History

Embarked Fremantle per ‘Seang Choon’ 13.7.1916
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 18th Reinforcement 16th Infantry Battalion. Australian Imperial Force.
Corbitt disembarked at Plymouth with the 18th Reinforcement 16th Battalion 9.9.1916. He marched in to 4th Training Battalion at Rollestone 10.9.1916. He proceeded overseas to France to reinforce his Battalion 14.10.1916 and was moved to the 4th Division Base Depot. Corbitt was transferred to 16th Battalion 30.10.1916 and taken on strength in the Field. His Battalion fought in trench warfare on the Somme. He developed influenza 24.3.1917 and was admitted by the 4th Field Ambulance to hospital. He returned to duty after a short time. Corbitt and his unit fought at the Battle of Bullecourt in April 1917. The 4th Division had been instructed to move and take Reincourt. They encountered unexpected barbed wire and suffered heavy casualties and a number of men were captured (Great War Collection Bullecourt). Corbitt was taken prisoner by the Germans at or near Reincourt (1.5 miles from Bullecourt). He was initially listed as Missing in Action 11.4.1917. Corbitt was interred as POW in Dulmen, Germany 11.4.1917. (Reported West Australian Newspaper 25.7.1917). He was repatriated to England 3.5.1918 and marched in to Weymouth. He was transferred from Weymouth to the Australian HQ in London 10.1.1919 and listed for return to Australia.
Embarked Portland for Australia per HT ‘Nevasa’ 5.3.1919.
Returned/Disembarked Fremantle 20.4.1919.
Discharged 29.5.1919.
Final Rank Private, 16th Infantry Battalion. Australian Imperial Force
Medical Condition NK (ex POW)
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Photos  HMAT 'Seang Choon'. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM H02243
            Ruined village of of Boursieres (Boursies) in the Bullecourt sector 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E01303
               POW Camp at Dulmen. Photograph produced Munster Germany, image courtesy AWM P01981.059

Information Source
AWM H02243. HMAT 'Seang Choon'. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial Seang Choon
AWM E01303. Ruined village of of Boursieres (Boursies) in the Bullecourt sector 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM P01981.059. POW Camp at Dulmen. Photograph produced Munster Germany, image sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial Embarkation Roll- Samuel Thomas Corbitt
Guildford Volunteer Fire Brigade Honour Roll.
Guildford War Memorial
Great War Collection. Bullecourt information, http://www.greatwarcollection.nl/Html/Bullecourt.html
NAA: B245,5 Corbitt S T
West Australian Newspaper
Wise, H. and Co. Western Australian Post Office Directories

51 Swan Street, East Guildford, WA.

Associated Images