Joseph OLDS

This labourer enlisted on September 12, 1914, and joined the 16th Battalion, 1st reinforcements (WA quota) ‘F’ Company, Service number 1072. The majority of the Battalion personnel were from Western Australia, with the remainder from South Australia.

After completing rudimentary training in Victoria, he embarked for Egypt on December 22, on the troopship Ceramic (which carried many South Australians). In Cairo a listed offence reported that Joseph overstayed leave.

Joseph arrived at the Gallipoli Peninsula on May 7, 1915. At the same time, the KI Courier May 8, 1915 issue was reporting on the initial landing: “Hot night fighting has been a feature of the Dardanelles, according to a message from the Greek capital.” Nine days later his left thigh was wounded from a gun shot. Taken to Alexandria for treatment, he was reunited with his Battalion at the Dardanelles a month later.

At the end of August he sustained another gun shot wound, this time to his right hand. Joseph was transferred to Imbros for treatment. Private Olds would not return to the Peninsula. The campaign had exhausted him and he began suffering from rheumatism. On September 26, 1915 Joseph arrived in England aboard the Aquitania, for further treatment of his rheumatism.

Eva, his wife, received two separate cables. The first one stated that her husband had been wounded, not seriously, no details available, and then the second cable reported he was wounded again, not seriously, no details available. The KI Courier briefly reported on this in a September 1915 issue. Eva waited for more details, which didn’t arrive. These vague messages prompted an anxious Eva to write a letter in January 1916 requesting more details about the welfare of her husband. It was a relief for her to know he was in England.

In January of 1916 Private Olds went back to duty, remaining in London. During this time, daily orders reported several misconducts. He was absent without leave for six days, receiving detention and loss of pay. Another time he was drunk while on duty at 130 Horseferry Road, the AIF Headquarters. While on duty he sustained another injury to his hip, in the same region of an already weakened thigh. After this, he was deemed to be an invalid. Being discharged for being medically unfit, he returned to Australia, disembarking at Melbourne 19/06/16.

For service he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal. Joseph’s request for a War pension was granted four months after his return. He began receiving three pounds a fortnight, and Eva was granted one pound 10 shillings, per fortnight. It appears that Joseph returned to service. In a 1918 issue of the KI Courier it is mentioned that J. Olds was wounded while fighting in France. He died in 1959 at Norwood.

"The Islander", 21 Mar 2015, available online at http://www.theislanderonline.com.au/story/2953511/gun-shot-wounds-joseph-olds-1892-1959/ accessed 21 Mar 2015