Military History

Embarked Sydney per ‘Hororata’ for Egypt 2.5.1916
Roll Rank Sapper.
Roll Unit 7th Reinf. 4th Field Coy. Engineers for Egypt
Deschamp disembarked with his Engineering Coy and moved to the 4th Division Base at Suez. The 4th 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 the 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 4th Division Brigades fought at Flers 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 4th Field Coy. Engineers to Abbeville HQ on the Somme 4.9.1917 and taken on Strength 2 days later in the Field. The 4th 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 4th Field Engineers.
Medical Condition Invalided with oedema of the feet.
Awards and 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.
 Photos  Western Mail 1.7.1943 p2
              Western Mail 13.8.1915 p3
              Flers battlefield showing old trenches. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced AWM  E00519
              HMAT 'Hororata' at Port Melbourne 1915. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM PB0438
              Shelling of Hamel.  Photographer unknown, photograph sourced AWM E02618
Information Source
AWM E00519. Flers battlefield showing old trenches. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial 
AWM PB0438. HMAT 'Hororata' at Port Melbourne 1915. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM  E02618. Shelling of Hamel.  Photographer unknown, photograph sourced  from the Pictorial Collection of 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. SLWA


C/- Guildford PO. WA (father) West Guildford
103 Terrace Rd Guildford WA (Brother August 1915)

Associated Images