Silk handkerchief : Sergeant O Coleman, 30 Battalion AIF

Place Europe: Western Front
Accession Number REL37358
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Heraldry
Physical description Cotton, Silk
Maker Unknown
Place made France
Date made c 1916-1918
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Description

Silk handkerchief with lace border and cotton lining. An australian army 'Rising Sun badge is embroidered in one corner. Above it is an Australian flag and a British Red Ensign. On one side of the badge is a shield in the colours of the French flag, and on the other side a shield in the colours of the Belgian flag. 'SOUVENIR DE FRANCE' is embroidered above the badge and 'AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH' beneath it.

History / Summary

Associated with the service of 2000 Sergeant Oliver Coleman, a single 27 year old basket maker who enlisted in the AIF on 12 September 1915. He embarked from Sydney as a private with the 3rd reinforcements of 30 Battalion aboard HMAT Ballarat on 16 February 1916.

Coleman arrived at Egypt on 23 March 1916, joining 30 Battalion at Ferry Post on 1 April. He served in Egypt until June, when he embarked for France, arriving at Marseilles on 23 June before moving to the Western Front. In July Coleman's battalion took part on the disastrous Battle of Fromelles. He was admitted to hospital with an ear problem, which was later diagnosed as shell shock (deafness) in early August, returning to his unit on 22 August. Coleman was with his unit only five days before being hospitalised again, this time with blindness to his left eye, on 27 August. He returned to his unit two days later.

In November he was diagnosed with myalgia and rheumatism and was evacuated to England with trench feet and myalgia. Coleman saw no further active service and remained in England for the rest of the war, serving at Hurdcott with 8 Training Battalion and at Codford with 14 Training Battalion. He was promoted to acting corporal on 2 October 1917, and later to acting sergeant on 12 November. It was while we was stationed with 14 Training Battalion Codford that he married Dorothy Mullins, from Ludwell, Dorset, on 7 February 1918.

Coleman embarked from Devonport aboard Kildonian Castle on 21 March 1919, arriving in Australia on 9 May. He was discharged on 13 January 1920. Oliver Coleman died on 6 January 1944.