Chapman Valley History

Louis Penn

6132, Private Louis PENN
Unit: 22nd Battalion, 17th Reinforcements, AIF

Where Born: Geraldton, Western Australia
School: Presentation Convent, Geraldton
Address: 56 May Street, St Peters, New South Wales
Occupation: Miner
Religion: Roman Catholic
Marital Status: Married
Next of Kin: Mother, Mary Ann Penn nee Murray, c/- J Marsh, Fitzgerald Street, Geraldton.
Then wife Millicent Penn, 27 Douglas Street, Redfern, NSW
Children: Joyce L Penn
Description: Height 5’ 11½”; weight 154 lbs, chest 33/36”; medium complexion; blue eyes; brown hair

War Service: Louis enlisted 19 Jun 1916 at RASG (Royal Agricultural Show Grounds), NSW aged 23 years 4 months. On 31 Oct 1916, he embarked per HMAT Argyllshire, from Sydney, NSW. While on the troopship, Louis was absent without leave for 6 hours 16 Dec 1916 at Sierra Leone, West Africa. For the offence, he was awarded 4 days confined to barracks and loss of 5 days pay. Boxing Day, 26 Dec 1916 at Dakar, Africa, he disobeyed orders and was awarded 5 days confined to barracks and forfeited 5 days pay. Louis disembarked at Plymouth, England 10 Jan 1917. He left from Folkestone, England
15 Mar 1917 and sailed to France. On 31 Mar 1917, Louis joined his battalion. He was wounded and missing in action 03 May 1917 in the Second Battle of Bullecourt on the Western Front. This battle represented a solid victory for the British units, which included the Australian Infantry Forces although they suffered 7,482 casualties.
Killed in Action: 03 May 1917 at Bullecourt, France, aged 24 years. Louis has no known grave.
Memorial: Villers-Bretonneux, France
Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal