Military History

Embarked per Shropshire’ A9 for Egypt 24.4.1916.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 9th Reinf, 28th Battalion.
Minchin disembarked at Suez. He transferred from the 28th Bn. to the 48th Bn. 20.5.1916. This transfer between units occurred as a result of the ‘doubling’ of the AIF, whereby experienced soldiers were mixed with new recruits (AWM 48th Bn). Minchin was transported to Alexandria, joined BEF and embarked per COHT ‘Huntspill’ for France 7.6.1916. He disembarked in Marseilles 14.6.1916. Minchin reverted to rank of Private 12.7.1916 when he joined his Unit. He was taken on strength with the 48th Bn. 17.7.1917. The 48th Battalion's first major action on the Western Front was at Pozieres; in this action the 48th Bn lost over half its men as casualties or KIA. Minchin was wounded in action 8.8.1916 with a SW and multiple injuries to the scalp, forearm and chest. He was transferred per HS ‘Cambria’ to the 5th Southern General Hospital at Portsmouth, England. The 5th  Southern General Hospital at Portsmouth was an umbrella term to cover a number of hospitals in the Portsmouth and Gosworth area. Many Australian troops were invalided to Milton Road Hospital. On recovery, Minchin listed for early return to Australia for a ‘change’ as an invalid.
Embarked for Australia per HT ‘Benalla’ for 5 months change 13.2.1917.
Returned/Disembarked Melbourne 31.3.1917.
Discharged 5.7.1917.
Final Rank A/Sgt 48th Infantry Bn. AIF.
Medical Condition Invalided with SW to scalp, chest and forearm - 6 months ‘change’
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes Older brother S.F. Minchin wounded in active service in France.
Photos HMAT 'Shropshire'. Photographer Hazlewood Rex, photograph source AWM P01843.001
             Pozieres Battle Field June 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E05391
             Wounded soldiers waiting to be taken to the Casualty Clearing Station France. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM  E00701
             HMAT 'Benalla' A24 .Photographer Josiah Barnes, photograph source AWM PB9246

Information Source
AWM P01843.001. HMAT 'Shropshire'. Photographer Hazlewood Rex, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E05391. Pozieres Battle Field June 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E00701. Wounded soldiers waiting to be taken to the Casualty Clearing Station France. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial 
AWM PB9246. HMAT 'Benalla' A24 .Photographer Josiah Barnes, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Roll Herbert Keating Minchin
AWM 48th Bn.
Guildford Primary School Honour Roll
HMAT Benalla at Port Melbourne 1914. Photograph source His Majesty's Troopships
NAA: B2455, Minchin Herbert Keating


West Swan, WA.
‘Spring Park’, Dangin, WA.

Associated Images