Peter Henry Cole was born in Ballarat and was a Butcher by trade when he enlisted in the 39th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement on 23 March 1916 at the age of 21. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A9 Shropshire on 25 September 1916. He embarked at Plymouth, England, in November 1916, then, in mid-January 1917 he joined the 39th Battalion in France. On June 7th 1917 he was wounded in action and evacuated to the Southern General Hospital at Portsmouth, suffering from severe gunshot wounds to his legs. While recovering in England he had several brushes with his military superiors, but with charges and penalties behind him he rejoined his unit in France, only to be wounded for a second time. On August 25th 1918 he suffered a gunshot wound to his right hand and was again evacuated to England, this time to the Military Hospital Devonport. The war ended while he was recuperating, and on January 8th 1919 he sailed from England on the Orsova, reaching Melbourne on February 27th.
Tree No 2282