Military History

Embarked Fremantle per HT ‘Hororata’ for Egypt 26.4.1916.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 4th Field Ambulance Australian Ambulance medical Corps (AAMC) 4th Australian Division.
Best disembarked at Alexandria and entrained with his Unit for Heilwan. He commenced training at various bases including Heliopolis and Cairo. The 4th Field Ambulance entrained to Alexandria and joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force for the Dardanelles 19.6.1915. They embarked at Alexandria for Gallipoli per ‘Alania’ 12.4.1915. The Ambulance Bearers were landed on the evening of 25th April (Digger History). The exact locations in which Best served and attended are not known. He was evacuated with the Anzacs in December 1915. Best and his Field Ambulance Brigade were landed at Alexandria 18.12.1915. Best was transferred to 12th Field Ambulance in Egypt 29.2.1916. He entrained for Alexandria, joined the British Expeditionary Force 2.6.1916 and embarked for France per ‘Kingstonian’ 2.6.1916. He disembarked at Marseilles 11.6.1916. Best was appointed a Driver in France with 12th Field Ambulance, 4th Division Medical Services 12.6.1916. In August the unit relieved the 2nd Division at Pozieres. They continued through the harsh winter of 1916-17 attending to the injured troops in the trench warfare on the Somme. Best took leave to the UK 11.1.1917 to 31.1.1917. He was hospitalized in France with an injury to his right arm, sustained by a horse kick 24.8.1918. He was transferred to UK with fractured arm 27.8.1918. Best was transferred to Bath War Hospital with severe fracture of the arm 28.8.1918. Following discharge from Hospital he was granted Furlough 2.10.1918. He marched in to Sutton Veny Australian Army Medical Corps Training Depot for Transport duty 19.12.1918. Best marched out for early return to Australia as an invalid.
Embarked per HMAT ‘Berrima’ for Australia 22.1.1919.
Returned/Disembarked Fremantle 10.2.1919.
Discharged 4.4.1919.
Final Rank Driver, 12th Field Ambulance.
Medical Condition NK.
Awards and Medals 1914-5 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Photos HMAT 'Hororata'. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM PB0438
             4th Field Ambulance Hospital Gallipoli  July 1915. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM C00661
             12th Field Ambulance Officers in France 1917. Photographer Cooke, Albert Victor, photograph source AWM P0330.006

Information Source
AWM PB0438. HMAT 'Hororata'. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM C00661. 4th Field Ambulance Hospital Gallipoli  July 1915. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM P0330.006. 12th Field Ambulance Officers in France 1917. Photographer Cooke, Albert Victor, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial Embarkation Roll- Horace James Best
Guildford Primary School Honour Roll
NAA: B2455, Best J 2431
www.diggerhistory.info/pages-battles/ww1/anzac/5months-anzac.htm

Bassendean Estate, Bassendean, WA. (Father)

Associated Images