WARNOCK, Sherrard Roy (1887-1974)
Sherrard Roy Warnock was born at Richmond on 14 July 1887, the son of William Caldwell Sherrard Warnock and Emily Eliza nee Tatchell.
He was enrolled as a day student at Geelong College in 1903. His address at the time was the Bank of New South Wales, Geelong. He matriculated in 1905 and was admitted to practise as a barrister and solicitor in Victoria in 1911.
After the eruption of World War I he enlisted, age 28 years 4 months, on 24 November 1915 and being promoted to corporal in April 1916. He embarked for France as a corporal on HMAT A54 Runic on 20 June 1916 with D Company, 38th Battalion. He was described in his enlistment papers at 6ft 1inches in height; 157 lbs in weight witha chest measurement of 35.4 inches. His complexion was described as 'fresh', his eyes 'blue', and hair 'dark'.
In France, he was promotede to temporary sergeant on 20 February 1917 but reverted to corporal when he was wounded in the back and left arm in action on 25 April 1917, and evacuated to 3rd Southern General Hospital, Oxford, England on HS Patrick from Boulogne on 29 April 1917. Pegasus of May 1918 reported the incident:
'I have been well out of the war since this year's (1917) anniversary of the Landing, on which day a sniper, after considerable practice and many misses, scored an inner on me and gave me a trip to England for the summer.'
After recovering from his wound he received officer training at Balliol College, Oxford. He received his commission as a 2nd lieutenant on 19 December 1917 and returned to France with the General Infantry Reinforcements taking up his position on 10 January 1918. On 29 March 1918, he was wounded in action a second time at Wimereux, the result of a gunshot would to his left foot. Promoted to full lieutenant on 14 May 1918, he rejoined his unit on 31 July 1918 and was wounded a third time on 11 August 1918 with a gunshot fracturing his skull. He returned to Australia, embarking on 19 October 1918 aboard HTD 24..
He married in 1926 and practised as an accountant in William St, Melbourne. He died on 13 June 1974 at the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital.
Sources: Bendigo Independent 2 March 1911 p5; Geelong Collegians at the Great War compiled by James Affleck. p333 (citing The Pegasus; National Archives).