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Herbert Rixon - Information

Herbert was a son of Campbelltown native John and Alice Olivia Rixon. For a while the Rixons lived near Mudgee, where Herbert was born in 1885. They then moved to the Campbelltown area, before relocating to Taralga. Herbert stayed behind in Campbelltown with his older sister, Susannah. Herbert had completed an apprenticeship with Byden in Goulburn and became a bootmaker. When the war began, Herbert was still living in Campbelltown, with his sister and her husband, William Keller, whom she married in 1913. When he was 30 years old, Herbert enlisted in the AIF at Holsworthy on the 25th of October 1915. During training, he was made a Private with the 9th Reinforcements, 19th Battalion. He then embarked Sydney onboard the HMAT Runic on the 20th of January 1916.

Herbert arrived in Egypt, where he was transferred to the 55th Battalion at Moascar Camp. In May, he was on guard duty at Sphinx Post when he decided to clean his loaded rifle. He placed the muzzle of the rifle on his left foot to remove the butt when it fired. On the 28th of May, he was admitted to the 3rd Australian General Hospital in Abbassia. An investigation was ordered into the incident, and it was declared an accident. By mid July he was back on duty, and the following month was sent to France. However, long marches and the colder conditions in France began to trouble his injured foot, it becoming very swollen and painful. He was admitted for treatment in Amiens, and was then evacuated to England in early November. He received extensive treatment and rest, however, the damage to his foot prevented him from returning to duty. As a result, he was sent back to Australia on the 23rd of May 1917, and medically discharged in August. Herbert returned to his life in Campbelltown and resided on Appin Rd.