Military History

 

Greaves disembarked at Plymouth ex 'Suevic' with the 44th Bn. 21.7.1916. He proceeded overseas to France 25.11.1916 and was taken on strength with his Bn. Greaves contracted mumps and was hospitalised at St. Omer 9.12.1916. On recovery he was discharged as fit for service and rejoined his Unit in the field 2.1.1917. In the harsh winter of 1916-1917, the 44th Bn. alternated between the front and rear lines on the Somme in France. (AWM- 44th Bn) Greaves was hospitalized with a septic right hand 17.1.1917. He was wounded in an action 28.3.1917, when he received a GSW to his side. (Reported West Australian Newspaper 26.4.1917) He was taken by the 9th Field Ambulance to the Divisional Rest Station 29.3.1917 and was discharged to the Reinforcement Camp 5.4.1917. Greaves developed synovitis and adenitis of the neck. He was transferred by HS ‘Pieter de Comick’ to England 6.5.1917. He was admitted to the Military Hospital in Edmonton 7.5.1917. Greaves was transferred to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford 18.6.1917. He marched into the Depot at Weymouth and then to Hurdcott 11.8.1917. He marched out to the Overseas Training Brigade at Perham Downs 23.8.1917 and then proceeded overseas to France 10.9.1917. He rejoined his Bn. in the Field 22.9.1917. Greaves was AWOL for a short period and placed at Permanent Base (PB) at Rouelles. He was transferred by hospital ship to UK and listed for early return to Australia for a ‘change’.
Embarked for Australia per ‘Llanstephen Castle’ for ‘change’ 15.2.1918 (Effort Syndrome)).
Returned/Disembarked Fremantle 8.4.1918.
Discharged 3.5.1918.
Final Rank Private with 44th Bn. AIF.
Medical Condition Invalided home for a 'change' with Effort Syndrome
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Note PB or Permanent Base was term used when a soldier was unable to serve in the theatre of war and could only be offered duties at the Base. Greaves was diagnosed with DAH or Disordered Action of the Heart, this was recognised as a sympton of stress or Effort Syndrome (Post Traumatic Stress), and was differentiated from a physical disorder of the heart which was known as Valvular Disorder of the Heart (VDH)
Greaves was married in 1913 to Margaret Bennie, whilst her husband was away at war Margaret moved from Frederick Street in Midland, in with  her mother at 5 James Street, Guildford. He died in 1972 and his ashes are memorialised at Karrakatta Cemetery, WA.
Photos Greaves L.S.D 1938 Guildford. Photograph source  Western Mail 10.3.1938 p8
           HMAT 'Suevic'. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM A03216
             3rd Auxilliary Hospital Dartford. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM C05043

Information Source
AWM A03216. HMAT 'Suevic'. 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 Rolls- Lindsay Stirling Darryl Greaves
NAA: B2455, Greaves L S D
West Australian Newspaper
Western Mail
Wise, H. and Co. Western Australian Post Office Directories. SLWA

5 James Street Guildford, WA. and 15 Wellman Street, Guildford. WA.

Associated Images