Private Bert Reynolds
- Rank
- Private
- Appointment
- Trooper
- Service number
- 2481
- Unit
- 3 Battalion Australian Camel Corps
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action
- Place of death
- Palestine
- Date of death
- 6 November 1917
- Age
- 23
- Plaque number
- M335A
- Co-located plaques
- M335 - PTE Alick Reynolds
- Dedicated by
- Family on 13 February 2021
- More information
Biography presented during plaque dedication:
Trooper Bert Reynolds of 3 Battalion Camel Corps was born on 6 November 1894 to George and Emily (nee Bailey) at York, Western Australia, the youngest of six boys and was known as Bertie. He was a young countryman raised in Poole Street and attended York School, after which he worked in labouring positions in York and played football.
For five years he served at home with the 88th Infantry Battalion, following which he enlisted on 21 March 1916 in the 10th Light Horse. He embarked on 16 May 1916 and was taken on strength by the Imperial Camel Corps on 5 August 1916.
He fought with the Corps through the winter of 1916-1917, which was one of the coldest in 40 years, and then into the heat of the summer. The soldiers suffered the ongoing privations of frostbite and mud, and then heat, along with the myriad hazards of combat.
Following success at the Battle of Beersheba, the corps reached Tel el Khuweilfe to the north where the Turks were well-positioned and regrouping. A combined action between machine-gunners and the Camel Corps drove the Turks from their positions of advantage in a fierce battle over three days, in which Bert lost his life.
Trooper Bert Reynolds, regimental number 2481 of 3 Camel Battalion, was killed in action in Palestine on 6 November 1917. He was shot in the head and died in the field on his 23rd birthday.
He is buried in the Beersheba War Cemetery, Beersheba, Israel.
Bert’s plaque is placed next to that of his elder brother, Alick Francis Reynolds, who was killed in action in Belgium 5 weeks after Bert.