BOLTON, Reginald Henry

Reginald Henry Bolton was a Company Manager, aged 29 and had been married to Doris (nee Fairland) for just over a year , when he enlisted on 3 November, 1916. They lived at 'Verona', on the corner of Gipps and Clarendon Sts., where he had been living with his mother, Mrs. Fraces Edith Bolton and his siblings, Francis Basil and Tom Harold Bolton. HIs father, Mr. F.P. Bolton, was alive, but not living with his family. He was, perhaps, in Sydney, where Reginald Bolton had been born. Doris also came from Sydney, Hunters Hill. She was to return there in 1919, following Reginald's death.

Reginald Bolton was sent for training at Royal Park Camp and placed with the 23rd Reinforcements, 8th Battalion. He must have impressed his instructors, because he had already been sent to NCO School at Geelong for three weeks, where he passed the course and was given the rank of Acting Corporal. From Royal Park, he embarked on HMAT 'Medic' A7 from Melburne, disembarking at Plymouth, England on 18 February, 1917.   On 3 March, he was promoted to orporal, then reverted back to Private. On 1 April, he was asent to Tidworth, where on 4 Apri, he was made Acting Corporal again, this time with the 8th Training Battalion at Hurdcott. It would appear that he imprressed his superiors, because he was sent on to Officer Training School at Candahar for three weeks in May. Finally, on 3 June, 1917, he left f0r France via Folkestone, marching in to Le Havre. Here he reveretd again to Private and, on 29 June, marched in to join the 39th Battalion and taken on strength. Again, he was promoted, this time to Lance Corporal on 10 August, 1917. 

He had only five weeks at the front before he became ill and was hospitalised, diagnosed with a hernia on 1 October, 1917. He was discharged back to duty a week later, on 8 October, but was again hospitalised, this time with 'Buboncles' (Carbuncles?). At this time, the 39th Battalion was fighting in Belgium, first at the battle of Broodseinde on 4 October, then on 12 October, at Passchendaele, rotating between the rear and front lines. Reginald Bolton probably fought these actions, but was again sick, sent to hospital in France, and did not return to his regiment until 21 January, 1918. The photograph attached to this report was taken on 28 January, 1918, on the Western Front, at Messines, Belgium.

In March of 1918, the 39th returned to France, and was engaged in defending the railway junction at Amiens against the German Spring Offensive. From here, they moved to Vaire Wood, as part of the major attack to dislodge the Germans from the town of Le Hamel, under the overall command of General John Monash. The unit diary of 15 July, 1918 records what happened: 'At 10.30 am. Hostile part of 30 attacks our posts constructed during the night, killing two men; after a severe fight the garrison withdrew, after accounting for 3 Boche killed and several wounded; at 3.30 pm, the garrison attacked and retook the post without any casualties. See attached report.' Although Reginald Bolton's death is recorded as 16  July, it would seem that he was one of the two men reported as dead on 15 July. The diary of the next day makes no mention of raids or casualties. 

He was, in fact, not dead, but wounded, with severe grenade burns to both hands, although this was not known for some time. The Red Cross records have two witness statements, one a letter from Neilson and Maxwell of London: 'He, along with other eight men were holding an advanced post, which was rushed by the Germans and evacuated by the party of Australians holding it. On the roll being called, Bolton and another of the party were found to be missing. Some time later, the post in question was retaken by the same party, but only one body was found.' The other statement was by Private George Riley, 2363: 'I know about Bolton's death. He was on a strong point to the left of Villers-Brettoneux (I was at a post myself near). The chaps said he was dead and they walked ov er him, but Fritz took him back with him, the Srgt. in charge went back to look for him. A Reinforcement man.'

Later, his wife was informed that 'According to a Frankfurt List No.1239, received 30 August 1918 we inform you that L/Cpl. R.H. Bolton 39th Reg. Aus.Inf. He is wounded reproted Prisoner of War, Camp not stated. For all further information, please apply to the Australian Red Cross, 36 Grosvernor Place, London, SW1 enclosing this card and adding Battalion and Regimental No.'

Reginald Bolton died on 3 August, 1918, from pleurisy, while still a prisoner of war. He was buried by the German authorities at Valenciennes Communal Cemetery, Plot 5, Row E, Grave 6. His name appears on the Roll of Honour Cards 145 at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, and on Panel 131 in the Commemorative Area. Doris Bolton returned to her parents in Hunters Hill in 1919, but later returned to Melbourne.