SHEPHERD, Victor Joseph

Victor Shepherd was one of ten children born to James and Mary Shepherd. Born in Bendigo, Victoria on 8 January, 1892, he enlisted at Black Boy Hill, Western Australia on 8 November, 1916. He gave his occupation as clerk and named as his next of kin his mother, Mary Shepherd, living at 99 Hotham St., East Melbourne. This owuld appear to be his only connection with the suburb and by 1919, Mary Shepherd was domiciled at 52 Collins Place, Melbourne.

He was sent to 93 Depot for training, before embarking from Fremantle on HMAT BerrimaA35 on 23 December, 1916, arriving at Devonport, UK, on 16 February, 1917. He was sent to camp at Lutton Mandeville and then on to Codford for further drill with the 12th Training Battalion, before departing for France on 19 June, 1917. From here he travelled to the Western Front and was taken on strength with the 48th battalion on 9 July, 1917. They had then marched in to Belgium, having lost 485 casualties at the battle of Bullecourt in northern France. 

Victor Shepherd joined the 48th Battalion in Belgium, where from the end of July, they were in Flanders,  engaged in the Third Battle of Ypres: Menin Road (20-25 September), Polygon Wood 26 September-3 October) and Broodesinde (4 October). Passchendaele (12 October, 26-October-10 November), the 'Battle of Mud' saw the 48th battalion push forward and take over 200 German prisoners, before the counterattack, where the battalion lost 369 killed or wounded from 621 fighting. On 11 August, however, Victor Shepherd was taken to the ambulance station with accidental burns to his face and sent on to hospital at Etaples for some days. He then rejoined his unit until mid-October, when he was temporarily detached to the 1st Australian General Hospital at Rouen and appointed Lance-Corporal. He was officially transferred from the 48th Battalion on 25 November, 1917.

He worked there until 11 January, 1918, when he was again admitted to hospital, this time with VD. The treatment kept him in hospital for 73 days, before he was discharged to the Australian Base Depot on 22 March, 1918. and then returned to work at the 1st AGH. He stayed with the hospital until after the armistice of 11 November, 1918, but was transferred again on 31 December, this time to the Australian Section,  3rd Echelon at Rouen, where he reverted back to Private from Lance Corporal, but was promoted to temporary Sergeant on 15 June, 1919.

By mid-1919, his services were no longer needed. He returned to England on leave in July and after being struck off the strength of the 3rd Echelon.  He was sent to camp at Sutton Veny at his own request. He returned to Melbourne on 6 September, 1919, once more on the Berrima, arriving on 24 October. He ahd been given the rank of Honorary Sergeant for his service.

On 8 April, 1925, Victor Shepherd married Rhoda Evelyn Morgan (1900-1931). He was then 33.They moved back to Western Australia, living at Kalgoorlie where he worked as an Insurance Officer. In 1931, they were living ast Broad Arrow Rd. , Brown Hill, where he was still an Insurance Officer. Rhoda Shepherd died that year and in 1936, Victor Shepherd married again, this time to Lillian Adelaide English (b. 1896). From 1945-1954, they stayed in Kalgoorlie, before moving to Perth, probably in retirement. Victor Shepherd died on 2 February, 1977.