Volunteers of Essendon and Flemington, 1914-1918

 

Aspinall W H  Pte  3010    William Harold     22 Inf Bn    23    Labourer    Single    C of C    

Address: 107 Gray St, St Kilda, Phyllis P Aspinall        

Next of Kin: Aspinall, M E, Mrs, mother, 87 Francis St, Ascot Vale    

                  Aspinall, Phyllis Patience, wife.  107 Gray St, St Kilda

                                                                "Bronte", 82 Railway Place, Flemington (advised 16.7.1916)

                                                                 84 Nicholson St, Fitzroy                        (advised 25.6.1917)

                                                                 32 Merton St, Albert Park, remarried    (advised 18.9.1917)  

                                                                 Phyllis P Phillips received memorial plaque and scroll, 1923

Enlisted: 20 Jul 1915        

Embarkation: A73 Commonwealth 26 Nov 1915                                                                        

 

Relatives on Active Service:

Aspinall N W Pte 3085 brother

Aspinall F R Sapper 17 brother

Hancock F Pte 4720 brother-in-law, KIA

Martin H W-Pte- 4728 cousin KIA

Martin-N-L-Pte-4727  cousin

 

Date of death: 19/07/1916

CWGC: "Son of Andrew and Elizabeth Aspinall; husband of P. P. Phillips (formerly Aspinall), of 25, Tennyson St., Kensington, Victoria. Native of Newmarket, Victoria".

V.C. CORNER AUSTRALIAN CEMETERY MEMORIAL, FROMELLES

 

Declared "Killed in action"  in a Field Court, 1.9.1917 Cable from London 12 Sept 1917. 

Phyllis remarried 12 Sept 1917, per pension statement B2455.  Marriage index shows Julian Samuel Phillips.

 

Associated with Newmarket Church of Christ

 

War Service Commemorated

Essendon Town Hall A-F

Flemington State School *      (H)                                                                                                

Kensington Methodist Church*   (F)  William Harold Aspinall had a brother Fred who returned from the war. 

                                                        The initial was possibly used in error for W H Aspinall who was killed.

Essendon Gazette Roll of Honour Missing

 

 

Red Cross Society Missing and Wounded Enquiry Bureau Files, AWM

The correspondence reveals that some of the informants had confused William Harold Aspinall with his brother Norman Wilfred Aspinall and reported that they had seen him since the 19th July 1916, having returned from England wounded.

 

Norman Aspinall wrote to the Red Cross on 25 Jan 1917:

 

"Re enquiry of No 3010 Pte W H Aspinall, A Coy, 58th Battalion.  I state that I am not the one who was reported mossing but a brother of his.  I myself was wounded on the 10th July and my brother reported missing since 19th July.  I have made enquiries since I rejoined my unit and from what I am told I regret to say that I have no doubt of his being killed and I have written home to my people to that effect". 

 

3075 Cpl Norman Dalgleish, 18th Bn, wrote from Dudley Rd Hospital, Birmingham on 30 Dec 1916:

 

"Pte James of my battalion and nicknamed Jambo told me at Plesselles in November last that he saw above named struck down in the charge at Fleurbaix on above named date [19 July 1916].  James is a Batman (an Officer's servant).  Aspinall was about 26, a middle-sized man, medium complexion and hair, clean shaven, round shouldered, mother lives at Ascot Vale, Melbourne.  Informant reliable".

Dalgliesh gave his home address as 230 Maribyrnong Rd, Moonee Ponds.

 

3018 Ballis, writing from Harefield Hospital on 19 Mar 1917, reported:

 

"Missing July 19/16 Fromelles front 19 Jul.  I saw him lying dead out in No Man's Land about 100 yards out.  I went to bring in Bill Hunt but he was dead and could not bring him in, that was when I saw Aspinall. I knew him personally, he was Batman to Lt Pullen, Intelligence Officer, observer officer. I was giving the cook ... and Aspinall used to come to the cook for things for his officer.  I take him to be about 30, short and dark".

 

3176 Cpl T W Martin also made a report to the Red Cross, but had confused him for one of Aspinall's brothers.

 

 

In Memoriam

 

ASPINALL.-In loving memory of my dear son and

our brother. Private W. H. Aspinall (Harold),

missing at Fleurbaix, officially reported killed in

action 19th July, 1916.

Ever remembered.

He leaves behind one aching heart,

That loved him ever dear;

One heart that never will forget

His memory written there (mother).

-(Inserted by his loving mother, brothers, and   sisters.)

 

The Argus 20 July 1918

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1407496

 

A.I.F., 15th BRIGADE.-The surviving comrades

of the men who fell on the 19th and 20th July,

1916, at Fromelles, in France, desire to convey

their deep sympathy to the relatives, and to

express a lasting regret and sacred tribute to

the men who will never return.

-(Inserted by 15th Brigade Association.)

 

ASPINALL.-In loving memory of my dearly loved

son and brother. Private Harold (late 58th Bat-

talion), killed in action at Fromelles, on the 19th

July, 1916 (previously reported missing).

To memory ever dear.

-(Inserted by his sorrowful mother and family,

57 Francis street, Ascotvale.)

 

The Argus, 21 July 1919

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4714308

 

ASPINALL. - In loving memory of Pte Harold,

58th Batt. (reported missing 19th July, 1916),  

beloved brother of Herbert, Sgt Fred, and Sgt    

Norman Aspinall (Inserted by his brothers, 87  

Francis street, Ascotvale.)

 

The Argus 19 Jul 1920

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4595256

 

ASPINALL.-In loving memory of my dear son and

brother. William (Harold), late of 58th Batt, killed

in action, July 19, 1916. (Inserted by his loving

mother and brothers, 87 Francis street

Ascotvale.)

 

The Argus , 19 Jul 1921

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4690196

 

ASPINALL.-In loving memory of my dear son

and our brother, Private W. H. (Harold), late  

58th Battalion, killed in action on the 19th July,

1916.

In our hearts your memory lingers,

Tender, fond, and true;

There is not a day goes by, dear Harold,

But what we think of you.

-(Inserted by his loving mother.)

 

The Argus 19 Jul 1922

Cite: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1834567

 

ASPINALL.-In loving memory of my dear son,    

Private W. H. (late 58th Battalion), killed in

action France, July 19, 1916.

He lives with us in memory still  

And will while memory lasts.

-(Inserted by his loving brother Norm. )

 

The Argus 19 Jul 1923

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2006800  

 

ASPINALL -In loving memory of our dear brother    

Harold (late 58th Batt, AIF) who was killed        

in action July 19, 1916.  

Ever remembered.      

-(Inserted by Norm and Fred.) 

 

 

The Argus 19 Jul 1924

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4266757

 

No further notices in 1925 or 1926

 

ASPINALL -ln loving memory of my dear son    

Pte Harold (late 58th Batt AIF) killed in    

action July 19, 1916.  

Ever remembered.      

-(Inserted by his loving mother)

 

The Argus 19 Jul 1927

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3867558

 

Nothing in 1928

 

ASPINALL -In loving memory of my dear son

Harold, late 58th Battn., killed in action July    

19, 1916; also Herbert, passed away January 24

1929.

God has you in his keeping.  

We have you In our thoughts.

-(Inserted by his loving mother, 58 Francis    

street, Ascotvale.)

 

The Argus 19 Jul 1929

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4022650

 

Nothing in 1930, 1931, 1932