Military History

Enlisted as Private and promoted during training to L/Cpl.
Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Ascanius’ A11 for Egypt 29.6.1915.
Roll Rank Lance Corporal.
Roll Unit ‘C’ Coy. 28th Battalion, 7th Brigade.
Kingsbury disembarked in Egypt with the 28th Battalion ‘C’ Coy. After a short period of intensive training they embarked with Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF) at Alexandria for the Gallipoli Peninsula, per HT ‘Invernia' 4.9.1915. Kingsbury was promoted to T/ L/Cpl. 20.10.1915. Kingsbury’s Battalion was evacuated with other Australian troops from Gallipoli to Mudros. Kingsbury disembarked at Mudros and then transferred to Alexandria 10.1.1916. The 28th Battalion as part of the 7th Brigade joined the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in Alexandria and embarked for France 16.3.1916.
They disembarked at Marseilles 21.3.1916. Kingsbury was promoted to L/Cpl. in the 28th Battalion. The 28th Battalion moved to the Somme where they engaged in their first major battle on the Western Front at Pozieres. Kingsbury was wounded in action with gunshot wounds to his right arm and leg at Pozieres 4/6.8.1916. It was reported that he lay in a shell hole for 2 days, wounded, partly buried and deafened by shell fire (Reported West Australian Newspapers  19.9.1918) before being rescued. He was wounded after 8 days of  continual fighting. Kingsbury was transferred by the Hospital Ship (HS) ‘Jan Breydel’ to England 9.8.1916. He was admitted to the Middlesex War Hospital 10.8.1916 with a bullet wound in his groin. He was listed for early return to Australia as an invalid.
Embarked Devonport per ’Runic’ for Australia 4.5.1917.
Returned/Disembarked Fremantle 26.6.1917.
Discharged 14.9.1917.
Final Rank Cpl. 28th Battalion 7th Brigade Australian Imperial Force (AIF)
Medical Condition Invalided, gunshot wound to groin.
Awards and Medals 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
RO Mention 26.8.1916
'Mentioned for good and gallant conduct in relation to the recent hard fighting around Pozieres.'
Notes Victor was one of the three Kingsbury brothers who served in WW1. His brothers were Harold (SN 34367), Percy (SN 1112). He died 15.4.1969 and was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery, Nedland WA.
Photos  HMAT 'Ascanius' 1914. Photographer E.L. Mitchell, photograph source AWM H16157
              Gallipoli, Soldiers at the ready in the firing line at Shrapnel Gully 1915. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM H00195A
              Pozieres Battle Field June 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E05391
              Middlesex War Hospital at Napsbury. Photograph source War Hospitals,Aussie-Mons
              HMAT 'Runic'. Donor R. Teague. Photograph source AWM P00707.02

Information Source
Aussie-mobs. Middlesex War Hospital at Napsbury. Photograph source War Hospitals, Aussie-mobs. https://www.flickr.com/photos/hwmobs/albums/72157652324630318
AWM H16157. HMAT 'Ascanius' 1914. Photographer E.L. Mitchell, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM H00195A. Gallipoli, Soldiers at the ready in the firing line at Shrapnel Gully 1915. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E05391. Pozieres Battle Field June 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM P00707.02. HMAT 'Runic'. Donor R. Teague. Photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Roll Victor Edward Kingsbury
Guildford Primary School Honour Roll
Guildford War Memorial
NAA: B2455, Kingsbury V E
St Matthew’s Honour Roll
West Australian Newspaper
Wise H. and Coy. Western Australian Post Office Directories. SLWA

97 Terrace Road. Guildford. WA.

Associated Images