658, Private Nain Singh Sailani C Company, 44th Battalion, AIF.

Private Nain Singh Sailani C Company, 44th Battalion, AIF, 11th
Infantry Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, AIF, was killed in action
on 1 June 1917. Set out below are the details of his service, as
obtained from official records.

Name:                   Nain Singh Sailani
Age:                    43 years
Birthplace:             Simla, India
British Subject:        Yes
Occupation:             Labourer
Marital Status:         Single
Address:                General Post Office, Perth Western Australia
Next of Kin:            Mr Rugore Singh (Father) (1)
                        Post Office, Charamadi, Sarana, Simla,
                        India. (A).
Height:                 5ft 4ins
Weight:                 110lbs
Chest Measurement:      32 1/2 - 35ins
Complexion:             Dark.
Eyes:                   Black
Vision:                 Right Eye: 6/9.
                        Left Eye: 6/9.
Hair:                   Black.
Religion:               Hindoo.
Distinctive Marks:      3 Vaccination Scars, Left Arm. Vaccinated at
                        Infancy.
Volunteered:            For Active Service in the Australian Imperial
                        Force (AIF), Perth, 2.2.1916.
Accepted:               After medical examinations etc., for service
                        in the AIF, 2.2.1916.
Posted:                 Area No. 1, Claremont Show Grounds, with the
                        rank of Private and the number 658, as per
                        Camp Order (CO) 682, 7.2.1916
Transferred:            C Company, 44th Battalion, as per Battalion
                        Order (BO) 08, 8.2.1916
Joined:                 C Company, after further training, 20.2.1916
Pay Allottee:           Allotted 4/- per day, to be banked in his name
Banked:                 At Commonwealth Savings Bank, Perth
Pay Book No:            Not stated
Pay Card No:            W.A. 25258
Nominal Roll Page:      19579
Will:                   Made out in camp, 9.5.1916.
Executor:               Mr Cyril Edward Coleman, Tobacconist,
                        William Street, Perth, WA.
Beneficiary:            Mrs Rugore Singh, (2) Simla, Empire of India.
                        In the event of her predeceasing him, he
                        bequeathed all his belongings, to The Goorkha
                        Association of Simla, Simla, Empire of India.
Will Lodged:            With Morris Crawcour, Solicitor.
                        National Mutual Buildings, St. George's
                        Terrace, Perth, WA
Embarked:               Aboard His Majesty's Australian Transport
                        (HMAT) A29 SUEVIC, to join the British
                        Expeditionary Force (BEF -- Belgium, France
                        and Britain), as part of Convoy Number 21, at
                        Fremantle, 6.6.1916.
Enroute:                For Europe, the SUEVIC stopped at the
                        following port:
                        Table Bay, South Africa, 29.6.1916
Disembarked:            Plymouth, England, 21.7.1916
Posted:                 3rd Infantry Division Camp, Larkhill,
                        Salisbury Plain, 21.7.1916
Embarked:               Aboard an unnamed transport, with the 44th
                        Battalion, for France, Southampton, 25.11.1916
Disembarked:            France, port not specified, 26.11.1916.
Disciplinary Action:    Being taken with respect to accidental wounds
                        received by Lieutenant Guy, 5.1.1917
Charged With:           `Conduct to the prejudice of good order and
                        Military discipline -- in that he at
                        Armentieres on 5.1.1917 by neglect, eased the
                        spring of his rifle whilst unloading, thereby
                        injuring Lt. Guy, Sgt. Marshall and
                        Pte. Browne.'
Awarded:                7 days Field Punishment (FP) No. 1, by
                        Commanding Officer (CO), 44th Battalion,
                        19.1.1917
Killed In Action:       Belgium, 1.6.1917 (3)
Buried:                 Grave 10, Section D, Plot II, Strand Military
                        Cemetery, Comines-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium
Reported:               To AIF Administration Headquarters,
                        130 Horseferry Road,
                        Westminster, London, England
Date of Notification:   8.6.1917
Reported:               To Mother
                        C/- General Post Office, Bombay, India
Date of Notification:   By telegram, 12.6.1917
Reported:               To Pay Officer, Perth, Western Australia
Date of Notification:   13.6.1917
Casualty List No:       356
Days of Service:        361 days
Certificate of Death:   Requested by Morris Crawcour, Solicitor,
                        27.6.1917 Issued, 6.8.1917
Personal Effects:-      Returned to Melbourne, Australia, aboard the
                        MARATHON, date not specified. Sent to Morris
                        Crawcour, for disposal as per his will,
                        18.3.1918
                        Received by Solicitor, 25.3.1918
Estate:                 Paid to his Mother, Mrs Ranjore Singh
                        C/- Babu Bool Chand, Clerk, Office of Railway
                        Board, Simla, India
                        Date of payment of estate, is not specified
Awarded:                British War Medal and Victory Medal
Issued:                 To his Mother
Date of Issue:          15.6.1922
Memorial Scroll:        Issued to his Mother, date not specified
Memorial Plaque:        Issued to his Mother, date not specified

(1) His father died at some time after his enlistment and his Next of
Kin was changed to his mother. There are many various spellings of his
father's name, with one being, Runjore Singh. This is how it is spelt
on his Last Will and Testament.

(2) His widowed mother.

(3) In the Regimental History of the 44th Battalion, there is no
mention of casualties being suffered on the 1.6.1917. However, I have
found one other member of the 44th, who was also killed on 1.6.1917.
This was only several days before the fighting at Messines, and may
have been the result of shelling or sniping.