Military History

Embarked Fremantle per ‘Ascanius’ A11 for Egypt 2.11.1914.
Roll Rank Appointed Lance Corporal 17.8.1914.
Roll Unit 11th Battalion, 3rd Brigade.
Bardwell disembarked in Egypt with the 11th Battalion. They entrained to Alexandria, joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force and embarked for Gallipoli 2.3.1915. The 11th Battalion formed part of the 3rd Brigade that covered the landing at ANZAC on the 25.4.1915. Bardwell was promoted to Corporal 3.5.1915, then 2nd Lieutenant 4.8.1915. He was wounded in action with gunshot wound to thigh and shrapnell wound to the shoulder 6.8.1915. Bardwell  recorded his harrowing experiences in His War Diary (SLWA )and transferred to Hospital at Heliopolis 12.8.1915.   He was discharged and rejoined his unit in Gallipoli 25.10.1915. Following the evacuation from Gallipoli and reorganisation and doubling of men, the 51st Bn was formed with new soldiers and seasoned veterans from the 11th Bn who had fought at Gallipoli.  Bardwell joined the 51st Battalion 7.1.1916. He was promoted to Temporary Captain 12.3.1916 and Captain 12.3.1916.
He joined British Expeditionary Force 5.6.1916 and embarked with the 51st Battalion at Alexandria. He dismbarked at Marseilles, France 12.6.1916. The 51st Battalion moved to the front within 2 weeks of arrival  and to Fleurbaix days later. Bardwell fought in the trenches on the Somme. In July Bardwell was wounded in action 5.7.1916 (second time) with a gunshot wound to his left ankle. He was transferred by Hospital Ship to England and admitted to the 2nd London General Hospital at Wandsworth. Upon discharge, he rejoined his unit in France in the trenches on the Somme, France. Bardwell became sick and was transferred by Hospital Ship ‘St Dennis’, for hospital in England, with inflammation of glands. He was placed on the Supplementary List 5.10.1916. He was declared fit for active service nd proceded overseas to France 7.12.1916 and rejoined his Unit 9.12.1916.  The 51st Bn. took part in the advance part in the advance follwoing the German retreat to the Hindenberg Line. On April 2nd they fought at Noreuil. They moved to Belgium and fought at Ypres at Messines (June7-12th) and Polygon Wood (Sept 26-27th). Bardwell became ill with swollen glands and was transferred to England by Hospital Ship in July 1917. After a period of convalesence, he proceeded back to France 10.1.1918.
Bardwell marched out to join the 51st Battalion and in March 1918 fought at Dernacour and at Villers-Bretonneux. He was hospitalised with pyrexia 15.6.1918 and was wounded in action (third time) with a GSW to his left Knee  gas poisoning 27.6.1918. Bardwell was transferred by Hospital Ship to England and admitted to 3rd General Hospital at Wandsworth. He convalesced until 29.7.1918 and was placed on a
Embarked for Australia per ‘Themistocles’ invalided 10.10.1918. Ship travelled via America, to connect with ‘Manuka’ in Vancouver 1.11.1918.
Returned/Disembarked at Sydney 21.12.1918.
Discharged/Commission Terminated 25.5.1919.
Medical Condition Invalided.
Awards and Medals 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes Bardwell's Diary held by the SLWA gives remarkable detail of his time in Gallipoli. Bardwell returned to WA and workd in broome pearling. He later became  Harbour Master  in Broome
Photos  Cptn Bardwell 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source SLWA BA 780/37
              HMAT 'Ascanius' 1914. Photographer E.L. Mitchell, photograph source AWM H16157
              Gallipoli. Hospital barge carrying sick and wounded  to Hospital Ships. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM P00591.002
              Ruins of Fleurbaix August 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E03723
             3rd Australian General Hospital at Wandsworth.UK_.c 1916. Postcard by Card House
            
Information Source
AWM HMAT 'Ascanius' 1914. Photographer E.L. Mitchell, photograph source AWM H16157
AWM P00591.002. Gallipoli. Hospital barge carrying sick and wounded  to Hospital Ships. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E03723. Ruins of Fleurbaix August 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph sourcd from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Card House Postcard. 3rd Australian General Hospital at Wandsworth.UK_.c 1916.
Australian War Memorial Embarkation Roll- Beresford Everett Bardwell.
Guildford Grammar School Honour Roll
NAA: B2455, Bardwell B E
SLWA BA 780/37. Cptn Bardwell 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source State Library of Western Australia, Forget Me Not Western Australians and WW1.  https://slwa.wordpress.com/2015/05/06/forget-me-not-western-australians-and-wwi/
SLWA B3967614_35. 1915. WW1 Diary of Beresford Bardwell:  http://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b3967614_35


Geraldton, WA. (Father)

Associated Images