Military History

Masters was sent to NCO School 8.7.1916. He was promoted to Cpl. 16.8.1916. He was allocated to the 28th Bn. 18th Reinf. 14.9.1916 then to the 43rd Bn. 4th Reinf. as Cpl. 17.10.1916.
Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Port Melbourne’ A16 for UK 25.10.1916.
Roll Rank Voyage Only Corporal to Devonport, UK.
Roll Unit 43rd Infantry Battalion. 4th Reinf.
Masters disembarked at Devonport 28.12.1916. He marched in to 11th Training Bn. 29.12.1916 and reverted to Rank of Private 29.12.1916- 8.3.1917. Promoted to A/Cpl. 9.3.1917– 22.3.1917. Promoted to L/Cpl. 24.7.1917– 7.8.l917. He was promoted to Temp/Cpl. 7.8.1917. Masters proceeded overseas to France and reverted to Rank 8.8.1917 at the Divisional Base. He joined his Bn. in the Field 10.8.1917, was taken on strength 14.8.1917 and promoted to L/Corp. During this period the 43rd Bn. was engaged in advancing towards the Hindenburg Line. Masters reverted to L/Cpl. 8.9.1917. He was wounded in action with a GSW shrapnel injury to his arm and shoulder at the Third Battle of Ypres 10.10 1917. Masters was transported to the 24th General Hospital at Etaples. He was invalided to England per HS ’Stad Antwerp’ and admitted to the Southern General Dudley Rood (?Road) Hospital, Birmingham. He was then discharged to Harefield Auxiliary Hospital 31.10.1917. Masters marched in to Hurdcott Camp 21.11.1917. As L/Cpl. he proceeded to France (ex Longbridge Deverill), via Southampton 23.11.1917.
Masters marched in to Australian Divisional Base Depot (ADBD) at Rouelles France 24.11.1917. He rejoined his Unit in field.3.12.1917. Masters was detached to the Gas School for training 21.2.1918. He took furlough 9.3-16.3.1918, then leave to Paris 21.3.1918. He rejoined his Unit 20.4.1918 during the German Spring Offensive and was wounded in action a 2nd time - gassed 26.5.1918. Masters was admitted to the Casualty Clearing Station, he was diagnosed suffering with effects of gas shelling 26.5.1918. He rejoined his Unit 15.6.1918 and was promoted to L/Cpl. 13.7.1918. Masters was KIA by a Machine Gun bullet, near Suzanne on North side of the Somme, France, around 3pm on 2.1918. Taken to Casualty Clearing Station at Rancourt, 1100 yards North of Suzanne. He was buried that night in shell hole at the corner of ‘K’ Copse, W. Mericourt, with bodies of L/Cpl. Rose, Private. G. Thatcher (43rd Bn. )and Thomas (62 5C2a. 52.95 also recorded as 62C G2A 5859) (AWM Red Cross File) .
Masters is commemorated at Villers-Brettoneux Memorial/Cemetery, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France.
Final Rank L/Cpl 43rd Infantry Bn. AIF.
Medical Condition Deceased, KIA.
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes Brother Leslie Ronald Masters KIA 26.1.1918. Masters spent some of his childhood at the family home at 9 Ethel Street, Guildford, WA.
Photos Cpl. Reginald William Masters. Photograph Source AWM P03552.002
              43rd Battalion. Cpl R.W.  Masters 6th from left in backrow. Photo source AWMP03552.002
              Masters brothers of Greenmount. Photo source Western Mail 27.9.1918
              Gassed Australian soldiers awaiting treatment, Boise de L'Abbe 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E04851
              3rd Division Infantry digging trenches at Mericourt, March1918. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E01849

Information Source
AWM P03552.002. 43rd Battalion. Cpl. R.W.  Masters 6th from left in backrow. Photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM P03552.002. Cpl. Reginald William Masters. Photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E04851.Gassed Australian soldiers awaiting treatment, Boise de L'Abbe 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Australian War Memorial
AWM E01849. 3rd Division Infantry digging trenches at Mericourt, March1918. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australia War Memorial
AWM H17454. Villers-Bretonneux Australian Memorial, dedicated in 1938. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Roll of Honour- Reginald William Masters
AWM Red Cross File Reginald William Masters
Guildford Primary School Honour Roll
Guildford War Memorial
AA: B2455, Masters Reginald William
St. Matthew’s Honour Roll
St. Matthew’s Fallen
Western Mail


York Road, Greenmount, WA.,  9 Ethel St. Guildford.WA

Associated Images