Joseph Victor Truscott

RANK: Sergeant

SERVICE NUMBER: 3629

UNITS SERVED: 60th Battalion Infantry

ENLISTMENT DATE: 2nd August 1915

AGE AT ENLISTMENT: 21 years 6 months

PERSONAL DETAILS: Joseph was 5 foot and 7 inches. He weighed 11 stone and 6 pounds, had brown eyes and black hair. During his time before war Joseph previously held the occupation of a letter carrier. He lived in Bendigo, Victoria with his mother Mary Jane Truscott. Joseph was also single.

HIS ROLE AT WAR: Joseph Victor Truscott embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Demosthenes on the 29th of December 1915. He began his service as an acting sergeant on the 26th of February 1916. He was then promoted to sergeant on the 25th of March 1916. On the 30th of April 1916 he was admitted to hospital with influenza. In June he was transferred to France. On the 10th July he was sent to the School of Instruction and returned to his unit on the 15th July, just in time for him to be involved in the Battle of Fromelles during which his battalion was almost wiped out in one night. He was one of very few to escape unharmed. On the 29th November he was admitted to hospital with Trench Foot which was very common in that winter of 1916 – 1917, the coldest in living memory. On the 9th of December 1916 Sergeant Joseph Victor Truscott passed away whilst in hospital..

INTERESTING INFORMATION: Before serving in the war Joseph was a part of the militia. The militia is a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service.

AGE AT DEATH: 22

MEMORIAL DETAILS:. ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY  XX. F. 6