Military History

Roll Rank Sapper.

Roll Unit  7^th Reinf. 4^th Field Coy Engineers for Egypt

Deschamp disembarked with his Engineering Coy and moved to the 4^th Division Base at Suez. The 4^th Division was formed in Egypt in April 1916 as a result of the military reorganization that occurred after  the Gallipoli campaign. Deschamp was admitted to a dermatological hospital with a debility in Abbassia 23.6.1916  and discharged as fit for duty 29.7.1916.  He embarked at Alexandria for England per HT ‘Franconia’ with the Overseas  Division 2.8.1916 . Deschamp marched in to Christchurch to Training Depot 19.10.1916 for a period of intensive training. He proceeded overseas to France  19.10.1916  and marched in to the AGB Depot 21.10.1916.   The 4^th Division Brigades fought at Fleurs  in France in October 1916, at Bullecourt in April 1917 and Messines in June 1917, however, no documentation was found to confirm that Deschamp was present at any of these battles. He marched out with 4^th Field Coy. Engineers to Abbeville  HQ on the Somme  4.9.1917 and taken on Strength 2 days later in the Field.  The 4^th Division fought at  Hamel, Battle Epehy and Amiens in 1918. Deschamp was evacuated  to England and admitted to Hospital at Dartford, with sore feet 25.11.1918.  He was discharged to duty  and marched out to Sutton Veny 3.12.1918 where he joined the Overseas Training Brigade. Deschamp was listed for return to Australia as medically unfit with oedema to the feet.
Embarked for Australia per ‘Orsova’ 8.1.1919.
Returned/ Disembarked Fremantle 12.2.1919 .
Discharged as medically unfit 30.3.1919.
Final Rank Driver 4^th Field Engineers.
Medical Condition Invalided with oedema of the  feet.
Awards/ Medals  British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes  Deschamp had 2 brothers, Alfred Edward and August Louis, all sons of a noted winegrower from SA . His father Edward, was originally from Switzerland . The family moved to WA with  the downturn of wine industry in SA c1900.
Photo  Deschamps Dairy.  Photograph source Western Mail 13.8.1915 p3
            Troops boarding HMAT 'Hororata' 1915. Photographer Josiah Barnes, photograph source AWM PB0437
            Ruined village of of Boursieres (Boursies) in the Bullecourt sector 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E01303
            3rd Auxilliary Hospital Dartford. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM C05043

Information Source
AWM PB0437. Troops boarding HMAT 'Hororata' 1915. Photographer Josiah Barnes, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
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 C05043. 3rd Auxilliary Hospital Dartford. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Roll- Louis Clement Deschamps.
Guildford Primary School Honour Roll
NAA: B2455, Deschamp L C
St. Matthew’s Honour Roll
Western Mail
Wise, H. and Co. Western Australian Post Office Directories

 C/- Guildford PO. WA (father) West Guildford

103 Terrace Rd Guildford WA (Brother August Deschamp- Wise's Post Office Directories 1915)

Associated Images