By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A SISTER followed her brother into wartime duty soon after he was wounded on a French battlefield during World War I.
Siblings William Erander Carpenter and Mary Campbell Carpenter both hailed from a Hemmings Street farm in Dandenong.
William enlisted as a 36-year-old farmer in March 1915, joining the AIF’s 5th Battalion.
He was admitted to hospital a week after joining the 46th Battalion in Egypt on 31 March 1916.
Discharged for duty in May, the lance corporal suffered a gunshot wound to the right forearm and thigh in France on 1 September 1916.
He convalesced several months in hospitals in England then returned to Australia on the hospital ship Karoola the following year.
His father John wrote to the AIF requesting confirmation that his son was among “the wounded returning” to Australia.
The Department of Defence confirmed the soldier’s return, though it noted “owing to possible mutilation in the cabled advice and other causes this notification may not be correct”.
Three months after her brother was wounded, Mary enlisted as a nurse.
She served two years, earning promotion to Sister after shifting between several Indian hospitals.
Her service history shows she worked tirelessly but for being admitted to hospital for an unstated illness over six weeks in late 1917.
Upon her discharge from hospital, she was granted six weeks’ rest.
Mary returned on the ship Themistocles in early 1919.
She re-settled in Dandenong, marrying Frederick Hipwell.
She died at her home Almora on Frankston Road, Dandenong, in 1947.
From his service history, it’s unclear what happened to William.
He seemed less than satisfied with his pension – £3 per fortnight from 19 May 1917 when he was discharged due to his injuries.
Late that year, he sent a letter on Drouin Hotel letterhead arguing he was entitled to “more sick pay”.
In 1967, William’s lawyer requested a Commemmoration Medal on behalf of his client, who was ailing in hospital at the time.
