Private Basil Guy Fawcett

Basil was born on 17 September 1891 and lived at 9 Ducie Street, Lambeth, with his mother, Emily, and his father, Frederick Walter, who was a banker’s clerk. The rest of his family included his siblings, Walter 5, Charles 4 and Phyllis 7 months. Basil started school at Fircroft Road School, Tooting together with his sister Phyllis, on 18 May 1898 while the family were living at 24 Kellino Street, Tooting.

By 1901 the family had moved to 55 Fountain Road, Tooting. His mother, Emily Sanders (now remarried), was recorded as living by her own means. This census also included Dorothy 17, George 7, and Basil’s half siblings, Elsie Sanders 3 and Gladys Sanders aged 1.

Basil immigrated to Australia in 1909. He is shown on an Outward Passenger List on 3 September 1909, leaving from London on an Orient Line steamer heading for Freemantle, Australia. Basil enlisted with the Australian Imperial Force on 29 January 1915 at Northam, Australia, and was attached to the 11th Battalion as a Private. He is described as being 5 feet 6 inches in height, weighing 120 lbs, with blue eyes, a fair complexion and sporting a butterfly tattoo over his right wrist, and a heart tattoo on his left wrist.

On 28 June 1915, Basil was wounded while stationed in the Dardenelles, Gallipoli, and soon after was hospitalised in Malta suffering with rheumatic fever. He was repatriated back to England in August 1915, arriving in September, and was transferred to King George’s Military Hospital, Stamford Street, London. (This hospital was originally built as a warehouse for H.M. Stationery Office, but was then commandeered for use as a military hospital). By December 1915, he had re-joined his battalion at the Australian Camp in Weymouth. Between 20 and 27 March 1916, Basil was ‘absent without leave’ and as a result, had to forfeit eight days’ pay, and was given 168 hours of detention.

Basil married Gladys Agnes Louise Perry at Christ Church, Mitcham on 23 July 1916. His address was given as Australian Camp, Western Weymouth, while Gladys was recorded as living at Thirsk Road, Mitcham. The couple did not have long together, as on 21 August Basil embarked for France. He was wounded shortly after on 24 September suffering with gas poisoning. In fact, during his service he had several spells in hospital suffering from sickness and injuries. On 27 May 1918, Basil was granted leave to the UK, returning to the front on 17 June, which was the last time he would have seen his family.

The 11th Battalion, AIF was involved in the fighting at Chuignolles and Proyart, while supporting the 9th and 12th Battalions. It was during this battle on 23 August 1918, that Basil was wounded in action. Sadly he died of his wounds the next day.

Basil is buried at Daours Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France. He is also commemorated on the Mitcham War Memorial.

In June 1917, Basil made a Will in favour of his wife Gladys. After his death, Gladys wrote a letter to the Army Pay Office, requesting she be recorded as Basil’s Next of Kin, in place of his mother Emily. She received his medals – the 1914/15 Star Medal, Victory Medal and the British War Medal.