Wesley Kirby
Service #: 15741
Summary
FAMILY LIFE
Wesley Kirby was born in Ryde in 1893, son of Nelson & Georgina Sofia (Smith) Kirby. He was one of 6 children. His brother, Nelson Jnr, also enlisted & died at the Battle of the Somme in November 1916. His father, Nelson Snr, came from Yorkshire, England and, in 1882, selected at Tyalgum where he and the family lived.
ATTESTATION
Wesley was single farmer. He travelled to Casino on 23rd November 1916 to complete his application, just after his brother was reported missing in action. His next of kin was his father, Nelson, of Tyalgum. He had spent 3 years in the 5th Australian Light Horse and had been previously rejected due to an appendicitis operation.
His medical showed he was 22 years 1 month old, 5ft 8 inches tall (1.72m), weighed 10 stone 6 lbs (63kgs), with a fair complexion, blue eyes & fair hair. His eyesight was good but his acceptance was subject to dental treatment.
The Examining Medical Officer stated that Wesley “can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description. I consider him fit for active service.” On the second page of the Attestation Paper, he made the following oath in the presence of the Attesting Officer: “I, Wesley Kirby, swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force until the end of the War … SO HELP ME, GOD.”
He was Methodist and had an appendectomy scar. He was enlisted as a private into the 11th Depot Battalion with service No 15741. the 11th Depot Battalion was formed to provide reinforcements to the Australian forces on the Western Front. These battalions were essential for maintaining troop numbers during the war.
TRAINING AT RIFLE RANGE CAMP, ENOGGERA
As was the case with men from the Northern Rivers district in New South Wales, they trained at Rifle Range Camp, Enoggera near Brisbane. The Barracks Block was built as accommodation for men in two dormitories, each 36 feet by 22 feet (10.97 x 6.7 metres). Beds or bunks were not provided, instead each man slept on a palliasse with ground sheet on the floor. For many it was their first time away from home. Men from every walk of life, from clerks and teachers to factory and shop workers, were crammed together
Now training for the new recruits began. Firstly, the men received their vaccinations for smallpox, rabies & plague, then a recruit had to be inducted into military forms of discipline, command, and order. This was partially achieved through a program of basic training carried and, in a sense, was maintained for a long as a man was in the service. It involved marching and drilling with the rifle, cleaning and caring for personal equipment and being supervised and inspected in ways quite different to ordinary civilian life. For example, no boots should be allowed to get in a bad state of wear but must be sent to the bootmaker without delay for repair. Men who were found with hair long and unshaven had to have a haircut and shave
Secondly, after basic training there followed the far more serious exercise of turning a man into a fighting soldier at least partially prepared for the kind of warfare he was about to experience overseas. The topics and exercises in the syllabus of training were a world away from their former lives and included daily physical training, entrenching, wiring, firing rifle grenades, firing the Lewis light machine gun, dealing with gas attack, using hand grenades, using the bayonet, and the routines to be followed in the trenches.
This training was then put into practice during what were called ‘Field Days,’ when men would practice using the skills they had acquired in mock attacks both by day and by night. How well men had learnt to use their weapons, in cooperation with each other in training, would be tested in the harsh reality of the front line. Training would take several months
The recruits were issued with their uniform: a khaki woollen jacket, heavy cord breeches and the famous slouch hat – turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge. A soldier’s equipment also included a dixie (mess tin), water bottle, mug, .303 Lee-Enfield rifle and bayonet.
HOME LEAVE
Wesley had home leave approved while in Enoggera to see “his sister and to fix up a dairy farm completely” He was granted 8 days leave, which included 32 hours travelling and 6 days at home.
DISCIPLINED JANUARY 1917
On 2nd January to 4th January Wesley was absent without leave for 1 days 22 ½ hours and was fined 2 day’s pay
DECLARED MEDICALLY UNFIT JANUARY 1917
ON 16THJanuary a detailed medical history of Wesley was completed. He had been having “petit mal” epilithic fits since he was 4 years old. These seizures typically lasted anywhere from 5 to 30 seconds & during the seizure, the person will usually become unresponsive or appear to "stare off" into space. They may not respond to stimuli or their name being called. The seizure can occur without warning and might be hard to detect, especially if the person is not doing anything that draws attention. He was discharged on the 19th January 1917
HOME LIFE
Wesley married Clarissa Rowe in Murwillumbah in 1918. He died 28th April 1967 in Murwillumbah and is buried in Murwillumbah General Cemetery, Plot Methodist, A-75
If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.
Memorial Location
We do not know the memorial location of this individual
Buried Location
Murwillumbah General Cemetery
