SERGEANT 109 BASIL MIDDLETON FENWICK 10th AUSTRALIAN LIGHT HORSE. KILLED IN ACTION 7TH AUGUST 1915





Basil Middleton Fenwick left the shores of his native Britain on 29th October 1909 bound for a new life in Australia. His eventual destination was the mining town of Nammina, in the desert of Western Australia, where he hoped to use his skill as a surveyor to prospect for gold. Basil was the son of Charles Fenwick, a chartered engineer who had offices in Leeds. The family moved to a house known as Dunluce on Ben Rhydding Drive and Basil was sent to a public school called Hailybury. In October 1914 Basil joined the 10th Australian Light Horse and was immediately promoted to corporal. His regiment set sail for the Dardanelles in early January 1915. He was soon wounded in the intense fighting but by 7th August with back with his unit, now promoted to sergeant. On that day 150 men of The 10th Australian Light Horse attacked the Turks near to a feature called The Nek. 138 would be killed by machine gun fire, including Basil Fenwick. His body was never recovered and he is named on the Lone Pine Memorial on the Gallipoli Peninsula as well as on Ilkley War Memorial. The inscription on his parents grave in Ilkley Cemetery also mentions Basil

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